‘Look for my name…’: Erling Haaland’s cheeky post as Google joins Norway’s ‘Viking Row’ viral frenzy | Football news

Norwegian Erling Haaland (9) leads the team as they participate in the viking boat rowing celebration. (AP Photo)

Norway is extraordinary FIFA World Cup run has now reached beyond football and into the digital world, with Google joining the viral ‘Viking Row’ celebration frenzy as superstar Erling Haaland encouraged fans to search his name online in a cheeky social media post.Ahead of Norway’s historic quarter-final against England, Haaland came to X with a simple but intriguing message.“One thing to do today… google my name,” Haaland wrote.Fans who took his advice were greeted with a hidden Google animation celebrating Norway’s now iconic ‘Viking Row’ tradition which has become one of the key images of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Google is embracing the Viking Row trend

Searching for Haaland’s name brings up a fun icon on the Google search page. Clicking on it unleashes animated Viking-themed characters wearing horned helmets and Norwegian flags, rowing in unison as unmistakable drums and booming chants of “Ro!” echo through animation.Repeated clicks produce more animated fans, recreating the synchronized celebration that flooded stadiums and social media during Norway’s fairytale campaign.In ‘Viking Row’, thousands of fans imitate the rowing of the Viking longboat after victories, and Haaland, captain Martin Ødegaard and the rest of the Norwegian team regularly join the fans in the post-match ritual.The celebration quickly became one of the tournament’s most recognizable traditions, prompting Google to immortalize it with its own interactive Easter egg.

Haaland’s World Cup extends beyond football

Google’s recognition is the latest sign of Haaland’s growing influence off the pitch.Earlier this week, the Manchester City striker surprised fans by reviving his long-forgotten rap career, releasing a remix of his viral 2016 track “Kygo jo” alongside Norwegian DJ Kygo.Before becoming one of world football’s most lethal strikers, Haaland briefly formed the rap trio Flow Kingz with young teammates Erik Bothheim and Erik Tobias Sandberg while playing for Bryne in Norway.The original track saw an incredible revival during Norway’s World Cup campaign, prompting Kygo to release the remix after the Haaland brothers inspired a stunning 2-1 round of 16 win over Brazil.Sharing the remix on Instagram, Haaland joked: “I did it! Thanks @kygomusic. Does that mean I’m officially an artist now?”

England next in the fairytale sequence of Norway

Haaland was one of the stars of the tournament, scoring seven goals, just one behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappe in the race for the Golden Boot.His tally also equals the most goals scored by a player on his World Cup debut since Poland’s Grzegorz Lat scored seven goals in 1974.Norway’s stunning victory over five-time champions Brazil secured the country’s first-ever World Cup quarter-final, where they will face England in Miami.As anticipation builds for the blockbuster clash, Haaland has ensured Norway dominates the headlines on and off the pitch.