Norway’s Viking-themed World Cup squad photo shoot captures team spirit in 2026

Norway’s national football team posed in full Viking attire for a dramatic World Cup send-off photo ahead of their 2026 tournament debut.

Focus on Haaland for Norway's debut As Norway prepares for their first World Cup finals appearance since 1998, all eyes will be on Manchester City striker Erling Haaland during their campaign. The Norwegian football association commissioned acclaimed British photographer David Yarrow to capture the squad’s send-off image, but he chose a broader approach to highlight the entire team of 26 players rather than focusing solely on the star forward. Yarrow titled the photo 'The Vikings are coming' and skipped the customary airplane steps shot, opting instead for a dramatic fjord setting where the players wore authentic Viking costumes complete with weapons and shields. ## Behind-the-scenes details of the photoshoot The photoshoot took place in one of Norway’s iconic fjords, ensuring the players were captured from head to toe in full Viking regalia. To address concerns about artificial intelligence generation, Yarrow released behind-the-scenes footage, proving the authenticity of the image. Privacy was a key consideration, so the location was chosen to keep onlookers away. The authentic costumes were sourced from theatre companies based in Oslo, adding historical accuracy to the scene. ## Yarrow’s Viking inspiration and past projects The concept for the dramatic photograph first emerged during an international break in 2023 when Yarrow photographed Haaland alone in Viking attire, waist-deep in an Oslo fjord. Yarrow remarked on Haaland’s natural fit for the role, stating, 'If you had to choose one sportsperson in the world that doesn’t need much hair and make up to look like a Viking, it’s Erling Haaland.' This wasn’t Yarrow’s first historical-inspired shoot; earlier, he photographed the Ryder Cup champions in prohibition-era suits and hats before their 2023 victory in New York. That black-and-white image, displayed at their team headquarters, became a symbol of their triumph and raised over a million dollars for Irish charities. ## Fundraising and team unity in the photo Four months prior to the shoot, the Norwegian football association approached Yarrow with a proposal to capture the squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Given Yarrow’s prior work with Haaland, who is considered the team’s unofficial voice, the photographer was invited to be part of their preparations. The resulting image will be displayed at Norway’s Greensboro training base in North Carolina and will support fundraising for Norwegian charities. Yarrow emphasized the importance of team unity in the composition, ensuring that both Haaland and Odegaard, as well as lesser-known players like Egil Selvik, were given equal prominence in the frame. ## Logistics and challenges of the shoot Organizing the photoshoot proved complex due to the packed schedules of key players. Norway captain Martin Odegaard, who was in Budapest with Arsenal for the Champions League final on the day of the shoot, had to balance his commitments before joining Yarrow for an individual session. The overcast conditions matched the original shoot, allowing Odegaard’s figure to be seamlessly integrated. Yarrow stressed that the image was not meant to spotlight just Haaland and Odegaard but to showcase the entire squad, saying, 'That is not seen to be Haaland and Odegaard and 24 others – it was important to foster a sense of team.' ## Yarrow’s impression of Norway’s squad Following a warm-up friendly where Norway defeated Sweden 3-1 with goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Antonio Nusa, Yarrow reflected on the depth of talent within the team. He remarked, 'People think it’s a team of two people and it’s so not. It’s a seriously good football team, from their wingers to their backs, and I think they’ll go quite far in the tournament.' Yarrow, who hails from Glasgow, drew a parallel with Scotland, noting that like their neighbors, Norway must win their opening match to advance. ## Yarrow’s iconic career-defining photo At just 20 years old, Yarrow captured an iconic image of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup trophy on the pitch at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, a photo now recognized as the third best-selling sports photograph of all time. The image, taken during Argentina’s 1986 victory over West Germany, he described as having 'changed my life.' Decades later, the World Cup returns to Estadio Azteca for the first time in 40 years with Mexico hosting South Africa in the tournament opener on June 11, 2026. Though invited to a ceremony marking the occasion, Yarrow opted to stay in Boston due to his personal investment in Scotland’s opening match against Haiti. ## Scotland’s path and Yarrow’s nerves Yarrow admitted his apprehension ahead of Scotland’s World Cup opener, describing his anticipation as 'masochism.' He explained, 'We know we’re all in for a horrid 10 days. But we can’t help ourselves.' Fortunately for Yarrow, Scotland will not face his Viking-themed Norway squad until at least the quarter-finals in the 2026 tournament, providing some relief as he balances his professional and personal allegiances.