Former England striker Wayne Rooney fulfilled a World Cup pledge by rowing down the Hudson River in New York with fellow BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards. The challenge was undertaken after Norway, a team Rooney had predicted would not advance far, defeated Brazil 2-1 in the last 16 of the tournament.
Rooney had publicly committed to the rowing challenge in the United States if Norway achieved this result. "I loved it," Rooney stated after the row. "The fans were brilliant. So we've done it out of respect for the fans."
The "Viking row" by Norway fans became a notable element of the World Cup, with even Norwegian striker Erling Haaland expressing anticipation for Rooney's participation.
Rooney, Hart, and Richards are set to return to their punditry roles on dry land for the World Cup final on Sunday, which will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. England is scheduled to play in the World Cup third-place match on Saturday, also available on BBC channels.