Norwegian fans have carved out an unforgettable presence in the stands at the 2026 World Cup, thanks to a joint collaboration between the Viking Age Museum and a professional wind-instrument maker, resulting in an iconic celebration set to be etched into World Cup fans' memory. The story of the celebration traces back to the moment Norway sealed its return to football's biggest stage after 28 years away from the game. The national team's fan association (Oljeberget) held a brainstorming meeting with the Football Federation (NFF), posing the question: what could the federation and the association create together under the banner of "the modern Viking"? The meeting produced many ideas — one being for fans in the stands to perform a collective "rowing" motion (a nod to Viking ship voyages). But what would give the signal to start rowing? The horn. The horn is custom-made from real bull horns and brass, and only two people in all of Norway craft this type of instrument. It's a difficult instrument to play, similar in that respect to the trumpet, so it's used primarily as an audio cue to rally fans into starting chants and group movements, like the rowing motion. The horn doesn't produce a relentless, grating sound - unlike the vuvuzela, the popular African wind instrument. Rather, the horn is reserved for fan leaders responsible for leading the chants, who were given the chance to practice with it ahead of the start of the 2026 World Cup. The task fell to instrument maker Kárstein Grønnesby, who expressed his appreciation for the federation's commitment to doing this professionally and meticulously. Norwegians believe this horn is an authentic creation, deeply rooted in reality and history, restoring to wind instruments their original purpose: organization and striking fear into the hearts of opponents. To bring this work to life with historical accuracy, the federation didn't rely on the craftsman alone — other experts were brought in as well. The Vikings blew horns during their seaborne raids. The fan association visited the Viking Age Museum and spoke with experts there to ensure the details were historically accurate. What's more, there's a natural connection between a World Cup hosted in America and the Vikings' historic raids on North America.