Norwegian World Cup Fans Bring the Viking Row to Texas

I don't know if Dallas was prepared for what was coming.

One minute it's another hot, humid Texas summer day. The next, thousands of Norwegian soccer fans are rowing through bars, airports and stadiums while chanting like they're about to sail across the North Sea!

As Norway prepares to face Ivory Coast on Tuesday, one thing has become very clear: these fans may have already won the World Cup- at least when it comes to having the most fun.

Norwegian Fans Bring Their Famous Viking Row to Texas

If you're wondering why people all over Dallas suddenly look like they're rowing invisible boats, there's actually a very good reason.

It’s all thanks to their famous “Viking Row” chant and it’s become one of Norway’s biggest celebrations.

Fans sit shoulder to shoulder, lean forward and backward in sync and chant "Ro! Ro!" before erupting into cheers. It's the kind of tradition that's impossible not to smile at- even if you've never watched a soccer match before.

The fun started before the plane even landed in North Texas.

Okay, if my flight started doing this, I'd probably join in too!

Dallas Is Joining Norway's World Cup Party Before Kickoff

The celebration didn't end on that flight.

By evening, Norwegian supporters packed a Dallas bar, where the Viking Row once again took center stage. Video shared by FOX 4 shows fans filling the restaurant with chants while curious onlookers watched- and in some cases, even joined the fun.

It's exactly the kind of atmosphere that's made this World Cup so much fun to watch, even outside the stadium.

With thousands of supporters making the trip to North Texas, Dallas has temporarily become a little slice of Scandinavia- just with a lot more humidity.

Texas Keeps Meeting the World's Most Passionate Soccer Fans

One of my favorite parts of this World Cup hasn't just been the matches.

It's been watching fans from around the world bring their traditions to Texas.

England supporters packed Dallas pubs until they overflowed. Japan's incredible fans won people over by cleaning up after matches and showing the kind of sportsmanship that became one of the tournament's feel-good stories. And now Norway has arrived, convincing entire airplanes, bars and probably a few Texans to pretend they're Vikings for the day.

That's part of what makes hosting the World Cup so special. For a few weeks, Texas gets to experience a little piece of the world without ever leaving home.

And if you happen to hear a room full of people chanting "Ro! Ro!" while pretending to paddle a longship, don't worry, you're probably just witnessing another unforgettable World Cup memory!