Overview
- Norway stunned Brazil in the World Cup last‑16 when Erling Haaland scored twice to send the Scandinavian side into the quarter‑finals for the first time in modern history.
- Rooney had publicly vowed to row down the River Mersey if Norway reached the quarter‑finals, a pledge that attracted a direct challenge from Haaland.
- On Saturday, July 18, 2026, Rooney joined BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards on the Hudson River in New York to complete the wager and film the segment for BBC World Cup coverage.
- Rooney said he 'loved it' and that the stunt was done 'out of respect for the fans,' adding a light‑hearted moment when he joked he had pulled his thigh during the row.
- The episode highlighted the tournament's viral 'Viking row' fan culture and served as a human‑interest break in BBC coverage with the trio scheduled to return to studio duties for the final matches.