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Norway's World Cup squad breaks tradition with Viking-themed photoshoot
Norway's national football team traded airport steps for fjords and Viking attire in an unconventional pre-tournament photoshoot ahead of their first World Cup appearance since 1998. British photographer David Yarrow orchestrated the session, capturing all 26 players in full historical regalia to emphasize team unity over individual stardom.
The concept: Vikings over airplanes
Yarrow, known for his dramatic and historically inspired sports photography, rejected the standard squad portrait on airplane stairs. Instead, he transported the team to a secluded Norwegian fjord, outfitting them in authentic Viking costumes complete with shields and weapons. The image, titled The Vikings Are Coming, was designed to reflect both Norway's heritage and the collective strength of the squad.
To counter skepticism about digital manipulation, Yarrow released behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot. The location was carefully chosen to avoid public interference, while costumes were sourced from Oslo-based theater companies.
A vision rooted in Haaland's 2023 solo shoot
The idea for the epic group photo emerged during a 2023 international break, when Yarrow photographed striker Erling Haaland alone in Viking garb, standing waist-deep in an Oslo fjord. Yarrow later quipped that Haaland required minimal styling to embody a Viking, calling the shoot effortless.
"If you had to choose one sportsperson in the world that doesn't need much hair and makeup to look like a Viking, it's Erling Haaland."
David Yarrow, photographer
Yarrow's previous work includes a prohibition-era-themed photo of Team Europe's Ryder Cup squad, which raised over $1 million for Irish charities. He hopes the Norway squad's image, displayed at their Greensboro, North Carolina, training base, will similarly inspire and generate funds for Norwegian causes.
Logistical hurdles and team-first philosophy
Executing the shoot proved challenging. Norway's packed schedule, including captain Martin Ødegaard's Champions League final with Arsenal in Budapest, required creative solutions. Ødegaard joined the group shoot post-parade in London, with Yarrow later integrating his image into the final composition under matching cloudy conditions.
Yarrow was adamant that no single player-even stars like Haaland or Ødegaard-dominate the frame. He emphasized equal representation, noting the contrast between Haaland's £200 million valuation and Watford goalkeeper Egil Selvik's £250,000 price tag.
"The one thing that was important about that picture is if, in the Norwegian squad, you've got someone that's worth £200m and then you've got Watford's goalkeeper that's worth £250,000, the third-in-line goalie-that they both occupy the same amount of the frame. That's very important for me, that it was not seen to be Haaland and Ødegaard and 24 others-it was important to foster a sense of team."
David Yarrow
Norway's World Cup prospects and Yarrow's personal ties
Yarrow attended Norway's 3-1 friendly victory over Sweden on Monday, praising the squad's depth beyond its headline stars. He predicted a strong tournament run but cautioned that Norway, like Scotland, must secure their opening match to advance.
The photographer, a Glasgow native, reflected on his iconic 1986 image of Diego Maradona holding the World Cup trophy-a photo that became the third best-selling sports image of all time and transformed his career. Despite an invitation to a ceremony at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, where the 2026 World Cup kicks off, Yarrow opted to stay in Boston to watch Scotland's opener against Haiti, joking about the agony of supporting his national team.
"I'm far too nervous about Scotland v Haiti. It's masochism, really. We know we're all in for a horrid 10 days. But we can't help ourselves."
David Yarrow
Norway and Scotland won't face each other until at least the quarter-finals, sparing Yarrow an immediate conflict of loyalty.
