At first glance, Belgian and Norwegian soccer fans can look surprisingly similar in the stands. Both are often spotted wearing horned helmets, but the inspiration behind the costumes is completely different.

Why are Belgians wearing horns?

For Belgium, the horns have nothing to do with Vikings. They are a nod to the country’s national team nickname, the Red Devils. Belgian supporters have embraced the identity for decades, dressing in bright red outfits complete with devil horns, tridents, capes and face paint. The goal is simple: transform the crowd into a sea of “devils” backing their team.

Norway’s fans, meanwhile, take their inspiration from the country’s Viking past. Supporters regularly arrive wearing horned helmets, fake beards, shields and axes as a tribute to Norse history and mythology. There’s just one catch: historians agree that real Viking warriors almost certainly didn’t wear horned helmets into battle. That familiar image became popular during the 19th century thanks to artists, costume designers and opera productions, before making its way into films and popular culture.

So while the horns may look almost identical on television, they represent two very different traditions. Belgian fans are celebrating the Red Devils, while Norwegian supporters are embracing the enduring – if historically inaccurate – legend of the Vikings.

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