What makes this World Cup campaign special for Norway is their qualification for the World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending their 28-year absence from the event, and they did it very much in style. Topping their group stage with a perfect 8 wins out of 8 matches, scoring a staggering amount of 37 goals whilst conceding only 5.
The Norway Football team, known as Landslaget, consists of players like the team’s captain Martin Odegaard, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Sorloth, to name a few. With such big names on the squad, people have their hopes up high, and the team has raised the bar even higher with their official photoshoot.
At first sight, the team’s photoshoot looked like a picture of Norway’s Vikings settled together, ready to fight anyone who comes their way, which is what we think is the message the team wants to pass on to their competitors in the World Cup.
Assembled beside a fjord, weapons in hand, and the long boats in the background only add to the intimidating yet beautiful elements of the photography.
Captured by the legendary photographer David Yarrow, known for taking Diego Maradona’s famous trophy lift at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico in 1986. He went on to describe the details of the photoshoot and joked about how easy it was to make Haaland look like a Viking, considering his giant build and stature.
“I knew it might get some criticism, but I wanted to play on that sense of journey that goes back to the Vikings, as if they’re setting sail for America.
“Then it was just a question of doing it right. If you do it in a half hearted way or in a studio it can fall flat but we really went for it. We got the boats in, got everyone dressed in proper Viking gear and not pantomime stuff.” said Yarrow.
The team and production made sure any money raised from the photoshoot will go to the charity, adding a good cause to an already great photoshoot.
But this was not the only team photo Norway were going to produce.
The official team photoshoot featuring their new home kit for the World Cup by Nike, looked very aesthetic. The jersey, embroidered with the Norwegian flag logo, looked picture perfect when players stood side-by-side. The ending of the cross in flag connected with the flag of the person beside, as if forming a bright blue chain on a deep palette of red, which made the fans fall in love with the photo even more. A user went on to add how the graphic designer who thought of the idea should immediately be given a raise because of how the crosses flowed across their kits.
But did the team stop here? No again.
The players had another photoshoot taken with a theme which can only be described as “heartfelt”.
Each player got dressed up in a retro kid of the first club they had played for. This goes on to show the various places where the World Cup dream was born for all the Norwegian players.
Haaland is seen wearing the 2026 centenary version kit of his childhood club Bryne FK while Odegaard wore his boyhood club Dammen Strong’s retro kit. Fans were happy with how the players were honoring their roots and humble beginnings before they turned into global stars. The honor to their roots would very well make the stars a bit humble before they go ahead and fight for the World Cup.
Considering Norway is going to be facing Senegal, Iraq and the mighty France, it will not be an easy run for Norway but we are sure the “vikings” are ready for the battle.
