On October 11, 2025, Norway’s national football (soccer in U.S. parlance) team defeated Israel^[1] 5-0 in a World Cup qualifying match in Oslo, the Norwegian capital. Norway’s football federation then donated the proceeds from that game to humanitarian aid in Gaza.

This action got wide publicity and praise on social media in the United States and internationally during Norway’s appearance in this year’s World Cup. The Norwegian team, led by its main striker Erling Haaland, made history by reaching the competition’s quarter finals for the first time ever.

Norway’s team and its fans got the delighted attention of millions by practicing the “Viking Row” cheer, where participants mimic the rowing of a longship to the beat of a drum while chanting, “Ro!” The chant took over stadiums during World Cup matches when Norway played.

Many found that there is another reason to like the Norwegian team and Norway’s football federation: Their striking empathy and support for the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza, where Israel has continued to carry out genocidal acts for nearly three years.

Go Norway! Go Erling Haaland!

For these reasons, we publish below for the information of our readers a brief post that appeared on the Facebook account of Decoding Affairs and was shared widely on social media during the World Cup games in North America. The text and photo that follow are from the original. Notes are by World-Outlook.

— World-Outlook editors

*

The Norwegian Football Federation [NFF] has donated the proceeds from Norway’s 5-0 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Israel to humanitarian relief efforts in Gaza, with the funds directed to Médecins Sans Frontières [Doctors Without Borders] to support emergency medical assistance.

According to the federation, ticket revenue from the match was increased to 4.5 million Norwegian kroner [~$450,000] through additional contributions from the NFF and its commercial partners before being donated to the humanitarian organization.

NFF President Lise Klaveness said the federation could not ignore the humanitarian situation in Gaza and wanted to contribute to lifesaving medical efforts.

The donation will support Doctors Without Borders’ emergency operations, including the provision of medical care and humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by the conflict.

The move comes as sports organizations and athletes continue to weigh in on the humanitarian impact of the war in Gaza, with several football associations and players using their platforms to support relief initiatives and call attention to the crisis.

NOTES

[1] Even though Israel is a country located in the Middle East, it is a full member of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) — that’s why it competed against Norway and other European teams in the World Cup qualifiers. Historically, Israel was a member of the Asian Football Confederation. But it was expelled in 1974 due to political tensions arising from Israel’s adamant denial of self-determination for the Palestinian people and the various Arab Israeli wars during which the Israeli colonial settler state expanded its territory at the expense of neighboring Arab countries. After a period of isolation, Israel was admitted to UEFA in 1991 and became a full member by 1994.

If you appreciate this article, share it with friends and subscribe to World-Outlook (for free) by clicking on the link below.

Type your email in the box below and click on “SUBSCRIBE.” You will receive a notification in your in-box on which you will have to click to confirm your subscription.