Minnesota Gophers Adopt Norway’s Viking Row for 2026 Games

The Minnesota Golden Gophers announced on X that they will add Norway’s Viking Row to their home game celebrations in 2026. The row, a synchronized drum‑beat chant used by Norwegian players after each World Cup win, reflects Minnesota’s 750,000‑812,000 Norwegian‑American residents and complements the state’s NFL team, the Vikings.

Norway reached its first World Cup quarter‑final in 2026, losing 3‑2 to England after a 7‑goal haul led by Erling Haaland. The Gophers, headed by coach PJ Fleck in his 10th season, hope to rebound from a 7‑5 record, with returning stars QB Drake Lindsey and RB Darius Taylor leading the offense. The 2026 schedule opens Thursday, Sept. 3 at home against Akron, followed by road trips to Penn State and Indiana and a home game vs. Mississippi State. sport-tr.bet