Only at a World Cup. A group of Norway supporters spotted yoga practitioners doing their morning session in Times Square and decided the only logical response was to form their own group and mirror every stretch, every pose, every move — from a distance.
The whole thing was caught on camera by one of the yogis, @sharon.v.md, who posted it to Instagram with the caption: "When you realize the Norwegian soccer fans are trolling the yogis in Times Square 🤣 #yoga #worldcup #timessquare #summersolstice #funnyvideo." It's the kind of clip that spreads because it should.
A fanbase making up for lost time
Norway haven't been at a World Cup since 1998. That's 27 years of watching from home, and it shows — these fans are absolutely determined to make the most of every minute on American soil. Two games played. Two wins. A Round of 32 spot already secured before their final group game.
The Senegal result — a 3-2 win at the New York New Jersey Stadium — was the occasion that put the city's Norwegian population into full Viking mode. Marcus Holmgren Pedersen got one, Erling Haaland got two, and Martin Odegaard led the post-match Viking clap in front of the stands, players rowing on the floor to a drumbeat while the crowd roared. It's their thing, and it lands every single time.
The fans were in New York for that match. Now they head back to Boston for a Friday showdown against France on June 26th — a game that means nothing for qualification and everything for group bragging rights. Both sides are sitting on six points. Norway's odds to top the group deserve a second look.
The tournament still has weeks to run. If this is what Norway's supporters do before they've faced France, the Viking row after that one might need its own stadium.
