The Viking Row conquers MetLife as upstart Norwegians encapsulate what World Cup is all about
Erling Haaland scores his second goal as Norway defeats Brazil, 2-1, in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Mario Gonzalez
This was the beauty of the World Cup, taking center stage Sunday in the round of 16 at MetLife Stadium.
On one side was Brazil, the most successful nation in World Cup history with a tournament-best five titles, searching for its first title since 2002. The setting for Brazil — the only nation to play in every World Cup — was very familiar, as it was in the round of 16 for the 11th straight World Cup.
On the other side was Norway, fresh off its first-ever knockout stage victory and playing in its first World Cup this century (and fourth in history). Norway — whose best player, 25-year-old striker Erling Haaland, was not yet born during its most recent previous World Cup appearance in 1998 — has a population of only 5.3 million, about 40 times smaller than Brazil’s population of 213.4 million.
No one could provide a better feel of the magnitude of Sunday’s match for each country’s fan base than Oliver Torgersen — a self-described “Norzilian” whose dad was born and raised in Oslo, Norway, and whose mom was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
But for Torgersen, a 32-year-old Houston native who was wearing a custom jersey split between Norway and Brazil, Sunday’s game — a 2-1 upset win for Norway, thanks to Haaland’s 90th-minute strike from outside the box and 79th-minute header — “absolutely” was an encapsulation of what the World Cup is all about.
“The World Cup’s about all the countries coming together,” he said. “I know it was controversial that they expanded the tournament into 48 teams, but I like it. I think it’s great. I think we should include more and more countries, make it tougher. The winner of the World Cup should challenge the entire world.”
Torgersen’s dad, Jan Torgersen, 63, said Sunday represented a “very special moment” for Norway, which secured its best run in its World Cup history with the win.
Oliver Torgersen, 32, from Houston, and his dad, Jan Torgensen, 63, attend the Brazil-Norway game during the FIFA World Cup knockout stage at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Credit: Mario Gonzalez
Jan mentioned the last time Brazil and Norway met in the World Cup: a 2-1 win for the Norwegians in the final game of group play in 1998.
“It’s been tough because [Oliver was] probably more of a Brazil fan growing up with Brazilian football instead of seeing Norway that often,” Jan said. “It was 1998; he was 4 years old.”
Oliver said he has been watching Brazil since he was little, but now he is “very happy that Norway is finally doing well.”
The native Norwegians haven’t taken this run for granted, either.
“It’s incredible,” said Stig Soerensen, 51, a Norway native and Long Island City resident. “I live here, so I’ve lived here for like 18 years. It’s probably the proudest national feeling I’ve had since I moved here. It’s incredible. Look at how many Norwegians travel everywhere.”
Soerensen said Norway’s run is the most fun he’s had following Norwegian sports, though he noted that growing up in Lillehammer, Norway, during the 1994 Winter Olympics held there also was “pretty cool.”
He specifically has taken pride in how Norway’s players have carried themselves with a palpable appreciation for the moment. The Viking Row, the popular Norwegian chant in which fans row in unison and shout after a drum beat, also has provided a nice boost to the country’s profile.
“You see them, they’re actually enjoying it, right?” Soerensen said. “Like you see after the game, they get people to row and get the drum down — it’s pretty crazy.”
After Sunday’s win, the team and the fans basked in the victory with a celebratory Viking Row led by Haaland on the drum.
Brazil failed to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1990.
Ricardo Landim, 48, a Brazil native and New Jersey resident, said he has “huge respect” for Haaland and called him “probably the best striker in the world.”
While the result was disappointing for Brazilians, they recognized the importance of Sunday’s match in the big picture.
“That’s the World Cup,” said Joao Krieger, 40, a Brazil native and Arizona resident. “Like what we saw [Friday] with Cape Verde [taking Argentina to extra time], those stories make the World Cup.
“I’m here with my nephew and my dad, so we have three generations, and this is really special. All games are different. We like to embrace the other fans, too. We like to exchange gifts. We always bring something back from a country. We did that with Japan and now we’re doing that with Norway. So yeah, that’s a huge unifier.
“I think the World Cup, it has this power to bring people together and really knock down all barriers and all wars and all that, so that’s really cool.”
No matter what, Oliver Torgersen went home happy.
Jan Torgersen, who called his shot before the game that Norway would win, certainly was elated too.
He said: “It’s going to be such a big problem for me getting home to the wife and explain and hold her and comfort her through this difficult time after Norway beats Brazil.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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