Over 1,000 years ago, Vikings were allowed to cross the Atlantic and set foot in North America before Christopher Columbus. And now, the images of Nordic fighters seem to have returned.

In the newly released series, a group of bearded warriors who stood on the edge of the narrow bay, armed with arms, were the Vikings' long-lived boats, as preparing for the conquest.

Norwegian Reform Viking Warrior in the 2026 World Cup series. Image: NFF

But looking closely, the viewer will recognize the familiar faces. It was the Norwegian team players, including the Erling Haaland stars or Martin Odegard, who became the legendary explorers to mark the first meeting in the World Cup after 28 years of waiting.

Photography took place last weekend at Oslo under the implementation of the famous photographer David Yarrow.

The idea stemmed from the wishes of the Norwegian Football League (NFF) on a different group photo, at the same time exploiting the historical depth of the Nordic nation in recent matches, Norwegian fans also often re-represented the Viking rowing images with co-conspirators on the stand.

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Norwegian viewers re-represented Viking rowing images

Norwegian viewers re-represented Viking rowing images.

NFF contacted Yarrow from six months ago, after he was Haaland and golfer Viktor Hovland introduces based on projects that have previously collaborated. "I immediately replied that I wanted to turn them into Vikings", Yarrow said. "I've always preferred getting the character out of the familiar image".

According to him, the idea may be controversial but consistent with the spirit of exploration associated with Norwegian history. "I want to feel like they're about to sail to America. But the important thing is to get there. If you do half-half or just in the studio, everything will turn pale", Yarrow said.

Odegaard traded with the photographer before taking the costume photo privately to fit into the group photo. Image: NFF

In order to increase authenticity, the crew even built a wooden bridge according to the historic architecture leading to Viking boats.

While many of the other teams chose the players who were about to board planes to the United States, Mexico and Canada, Yarrow claimed that the method was quite familiar. "We've seen too many pictures in the elevator. They're pretty boring. At least the Norwegians tried to create something special," he said.

Yarrow reveals that he was inspired by the Vikings television series when he built the image idea. Haaland also played a key role in convincing the entire team to join the project because he had previously been photographed by Yarrow himself in the Viking warrior figure.

"We hired a costumer. The only requirement is for people to express their violence and authority. There are some players who look too gentle to be warriors, but eventually everything is fine", the Scottish photographer added.

He was particularly impressed with Haaland's long hair, though admitted that he did not want to confront Coach Stale Solbakken - who is described as "a very tough person".

The set consists of two main versions: a single-shot of the team and a group photo with the entire training department and the engineering team.

The backdrop of the Erling Haaland photo disfigured Viking Warrior in the 2023 series. Image: David Yarrow

According to NFF Chairman Lise Klaveness, the project was not merely about Viking appearances but reflected the team's spirit of unity. "This is the succession of how we built the national team image over the years. The team represented all parts of Norway.

She stated that NFF soon realized that Viking images were always associated with Norway, so the organization decided to take the symbol into its own hands. "The important thing is not in aesthetics but in values: cohesion, collective spirit and unity", Klavness expressed.

The concept "modern Vikings" was used in the media campaign, but Klaveness emphasized that this was not an attempt to define the team according to a certain pattern. "This is a diverse group and that is our strength. Icons used to connect people, not to represent a specific type of player or background," she said.

The uniqueness of the set even caused Yarrow to worry some people would think it was the product of artificial intelligence (AI). "So today we often record the whole backdrop of every shot. Even so, I'm too old to really understand what AI is," he was joking.

At the 2026 World Cup, Norway is located on the French Iboard, Senegal and Iraq. Scottish photographers believe that the North European team can create surprises. "Naly was able to make it difficult for many opponents. They own the top players and the formation depth good enough to soon pass the board ring".

Duration1:47

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