Best Vikings invading England memes: Erling Haaland, Norway bring ancient history lesson to World Cup

World Cup fans who have gotten used to seeing Norway forward Erling Haaland score goals have found themselves asking how he is so good. Some fans have gone as far as asking whether or not Haaland himself has Viking heritage.

While there doesn't seem to be conclusive evidence proving or denying Haaland's heritage, soccer fans have had some fun creating videos with Norway's team represented as Vikings. Many AI-generated videos have spread across social media, especially before their quarterfinal match against England.

What makes this situation even more noteworthy is the fact that the Vikings did attempt to take over England starting in the 700s.

Here's the latest craze that has struck social media in light of Norway's success at the 2026 World Cup.

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Vikings invasion of England history

The first Viking attack on present-day England was the raid on Lindisfarne in the year 793, according to English Heritage. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, a collection of Anglo-Saxon history records in Old English, states that the raid featured ‘whirlwinds and flashes of lighting, and fiery dragons,’ along with ‘heathen men wretchedly destroying God’s church on Lindisfarne, with plunder and slaughter.’

In 835, things began to escalate when larger Viking fleets started to create confrontations with royal English armies. Raids like these were frequent across the 800s and 900s, as the Vikings always made their presence known.

The Vikings began advancing through England leading up to 871. That year, the Viking army had defeated the armies of Northumbria, East Anglia, and Mercia, and did away with their kings. The only Anglo-Saxon kingdom to weather the storm was Wessex. The Kingdom of Wessex and its king, Alfred, was one of the few who were able to emerge victorious over the Vikings. In 878, the two sides negotiated on a settlement which left Viking warlords in control of all England north and east of a line that ran from east London to Chester.

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Norway Viking memes

Here's a look at some of the best Norway memes that have spread rapidly across social media:

— ÓMÒÉLÉRÍNJÁRÉ (@omoelerinjare) July 9, 2026

Vikings invading England pic.twitter.com/hS8D0FcKPe

— Izakpa Blessing (@IzakpaB) July 10, 2026

England vs. the Vikings. A place in the World Cup Semi-Finals is on the line… who’s coming out on top? pic.twitter.com/zBQoEdFuN9

— BIGREMS (@remythomz) July 10, 2026

Is Erling Haaland a Viking descendant?

There is no definitive proof that Haaland is a Viking descendant. Many viewers of the World Cup first began asking this question when Haaland and his Norway team posed for a Viking-themed team picture ahead of the 2026 tournament.

you don’t release a team photo like this unless you know you’re making a run 🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/aoShX2udY9

— Jonathan Berk (@berkie1) July 5, 2026

Haaland did, however, donate a rare Viking book he bought to his local library in Bryne, Norway, according to the BBC. The star forward originally got his hands on the book after he bought it at an auction for 1.3 million Norwegian Krone (about $132,888.99) in December 2025. The sale broke a record for the most expensive book sale in Norway.