Norwegian World Cup fans turn Citi Field bleachers into a Viking longship during Mets game
Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many expected and claimed that the United States would not be a successful host of football’s biggest tournament.
As the group stage of the World Cup nears its end, it turns out that these expectations couldn’t be more wrong. Even the games between small countries, held at inconvenient times, were full. Or those kept in difficult weather conditions.
A random German fan was treated like royalty after sharing how much he enjoyed traveling in South America on X. I’ve been invited backstage to big concerts. After the flight was cancelled, airlines and politicians helped. Many people shared about the hospitality they received while visiting the United States. Or how good the food at unremarkable chains actually is.
There’s also another World Cup tradition we didn’t know we needed: fans of European teams attending Major League Baseball games.
WORLD CUP FANS ARE IN LOVE WITH AMERICAN CULTURE, CASUAL FOOD CLASSICS
Fans wearing kilts and playing bagpipes march to Fenway Park in Massachusetts on June 14, 2026. (Bob Dechiara/Imagn Images)
The “Tartan Army”, the nickname of the Scottish National Team fanbase, had the time of their lives attending the Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Singing even after the music ended came to a point where announcers on national broadcasts expressed what an experience it was like.
They then migrated south to Miami and created the best atmosphere at Marlins Park since the World Baseball Classic.
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Now another national team’s fan base is taking over a stadium. This time, the Norwegian fans at Citi Field brought the atmosphere to the most unexpected place: a New York Mets game. In the first game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs, they transformed the stands into a tall ship with the traditional “Viking Row” celebration. Even the Mets’ mascots, Mr. and Mrs. Met, got in on the action.
Norway national soccer team fans support Mr. and Mrs. Mets during an MLB game between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs at Citi Field in New York City on June 24, 2026. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
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They also unintentionally provided the broadcast’s funniest moment, with Dansby Swanson’s game-changing three-run homer for the Cubs. After the ball crossed the fence, the camera moved to the right field stands, where Norwegian fans were marching around the stands in celebration. At the Mets’ home game.
Norway national soccer team fans sample food at Citi Field during the MLB game between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs on June 24, 2026 in New York City, New York. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)
These videos of European fans enjoying a piece of American culture served as a heartwarming reminder of what the World Cup is all about. And I’d like to remind you that pre-Cup doom and gloom is always ideologically motivated nonsense. A tremendous success has been achieved, and much of the credit goes to America and its people.
