Wayne Rooney proved he’s a man of his word this morning by grabbing a pair of oars and taking to the Hudson River in New York.
The former England captain was joined by fellow BBC pundits Joe Hart and Micah Richards for the aquatic adventure, which came after Norway pulled off a stunning World Cup upset.
It all started when Rooney promised he’d row down the River Mersey if Norway managed to knock out Brazil in the last 16.
Well, the Norwegians did exactly that, defeating the five-time world champions 2-1, so Rooney confirmed live on air he’d honour the pledge – though he swapped Merseyside for Manhattan.
Wayne Rooney admitted he injured his thigh during the rowing trip
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BBC
The bet came about during the knockout stages when Rooney made his bold prediction about Norway’s chances against the South American giants.
Erling Haaland made sure the former Manchester United star couldn’t wriggle out of it, scoring a brilliant late brace to seal the 2-1 victory.
The Manchester City striker then called out Rooney directly, saying: “Wayne, I expect you to go out on a rowing trip.”
Norway’s famous ‘Viking row’ celebration had become one of the tournament’s most memorable sights, with their fans creating a sensation wherever they went.
Wayne Rooney – A man of his word! pic.twitter.com/cj6inCdS2i
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 18, 2026
Though the Scandinavians were eventually eliminated by England in the quarter-finals, Haaland’s challenge ensured Rooney would still have to get his oars wet.
Rooney was clearly chuffed with the experience, telling the BBC: “I loved it. The fans were brilliant. So we’ve done it out of respect for the fans.”
The 40-year-old couldn’t resist having a cheeky dig at Haaland either, adding: “Enjoy it. We’ve seen a video of you dancing in Marbella, so hope you enjoyed this!”
Hart got into the spirit too, joking that they should race the Norwegian team, while Rooney quipped he might have pulled his thigh during the effort.
The trio will be back on dry land alongside Gabby Logan for Sunday’s World Cup final at 20:00 BST, which viewers can catch live on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
