Best World Cup fan moments so far: Tartan Army, Viking Row, and more

The 2026 World Cup group stage wasn't just marked by a record-breaking number of goals or incredible superstar highlights. Thousands of fans from various countries took over North America, creating priceless memories for both themselves and for us looking on from afar.

Here are some of the best fan moments from the tournament so far.

Scotland steals the show

The Tartan Army grabbed headlines during the group stage, taking over the streets (and ballparks) in recent weeks to celebrate Scotland's first World Cup appearance in 28 years.

Boston, where Scotland opened its World Cup campaign with a win over Haiti, wasn't ready for the magnitude of the post-match celebrations.

'Viking Row' all the rage

The Norwegian "Viking Row" went viral during the group stage, and even Norway's players joined the party after one of their games.

Canadian fans, clearly inspired, also came up with their own row. The "Canoe Row" isn't quite as captivating, but fair play to the Canadian fans for getting in on the party.

Wait, the Norwegians aren't done

Norway fans also crashed the scene during a yoga session at Times Square and even at an MLB game, once again putting on a show.

South Koreans in Mexico

South Korea didn't quite meet expectations on the field. Still, at least its fans had a great time outside of the stadiums, partying with Mexican supporters everywhere to create an unexpected fellowship.

The ducks

While Mexico secured a spot in the knockout stage for its on-pitch performance, an unusual fan stole headlines off the field. Meet Merlin the duck, El Tri's most viral supporter this summer.

Not that they needed more reasons to go viral, but Scottish fans also had their own fowl friend at the World Cup.

Dutch take over Dallas

The Netherlands' marquee orange outfit has been everywhere during the tournament, and the nation's celebrations were spectacular. Just look at what the Dutch did in Houston. Good luck getting this song out of your head:

Dutch legend goes viral

How many pints can you carry at once? Probably not as many as this Netherlands fan, who became an instant legend after videos showed him carrying 26 at a bar.

Brazilians leave their mark

Brazil played in New Jersey, Philadelphia, and Miami during the group stage, and incredible videos from its fans in each city were all over social media.

Brazilians even tried to curse Argentina by dressing the famous Rocky Balboa statue in their archrival's jersey.

Germans LOUD in Times Square

Times Square was a fan favorite for teams playing at MetLife Stadium. German supporters, in particular, made Manhattan's famous cultural hub feel like home.

DR Congo's superfan

The Leopards went viral for drawing with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal ... and for their most famous statuesque fan, who traditionally stands still throughout every game he attends as a tribute to former leader Patrice Lumumba.

Uzbekistanis on horseback and in armor

Perhaps no fan base had a more eye-catching arrival at a stadium than Uzbekistan's. The nation's supporters arrived in Texas on horseback and in full armor ahead of the team's matchup with Portugal. Fabio Cannavaro's squad probably could've used some of these guys in its 5-0 loss.

Japan loves North America

The Japanese have produced enough viral videos for an entire separate story, but here's what you should know about them at this year's tournament: They know how to drink a Guinness, love Texas barbecue, and always want to keep the stadiums clean.

Just like they did in Qatar in 2022, Japanese fans kept their tradition and went viral once again for cleaning up their stadium section post-match. Other fan bases seemingly started to follow that trend, too.

This Japanese fan, in particular, has been having a great time:

The stars are out

Unsurprisingly, matches at this summer's tournament - especially those involving co-host United States - have brought out some of the world's most famous faces.

Love is in the air

Croatian fans gave a newly married couple in Philadelphia a moment they'll never forget on their wedding day:

Meanwhile, this Bosnian supporter wasn't going to let the end of a long-term relationship dampen his excitement about the World Cup.