Norway vs Denmark Prediction & Preview - Nations League
Norway and Denmark meet at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo on Thursday, 24 September 2026, kicking off at 19:45 BST, in their opening UEFA Nations League A fixture of the season. Ståle Solbakken's side are back in the top tier after promotion, drawn in a group alongside Portugal and Wales, and this is the first competitive step of that return.
- Fixture: Norway vs Denmark
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Kick-off: 19:45 BST
- Venue: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
Norway's World Cup run
Norway go into this match having reached the World Cup quarter-finals in the summer, where they lost 1-2 to England on 11 July. That defeat came after a run of knockout wins away from home: 2-1 against Brazil, 2-1 against Côte d'Ivoire and 4-1 against Iraq. The one heavy loss in that sequence was 1-4 to France on 26 June, either side of a 3-2 win over Senegal. It is a squad that has scored freely all summer and lost to two of the tournament's strongest sides.
Ødegaard's absence changes the captaincy
Martin Ødegaard will not feature. He damaged ankle ligaments playing for Norway against Austria on 9 September and has been ruled out of this window, with the injury expected to keep him out for several weeks. Erling Haaland has taken the captain's armband in his place for the Denmark game and the fixtures either side of it.
Denmark arrive with almost nothing to draw on
Denmark's only two results in recent memory are a 0-0 draw with DR Congo in a friendly on 3 June and a 5-3 defeat to Czechia on 31 March, the result that ended their hopes of reaching the World Cup. Brian Riemer has kept his job since, but the manner of that exit has kept the pressure on him going into this Nations League opener.
Denmark's squad for this window
Riemer has left out Christian Eriksen, who is still working through his recovery after collapsing on the pitch against Ukraine in June. Alexander Bah carries a fitness doubt, and Victor Froholdt is unavailable after a concussion picked up playing for Porto in early September. Midfielders Mads Bidstrup and Thomas Jørgensen have been called into the squad in their place.
Two teams starting from different points
Norway are playing League A football for the first time after promotion; Denmark are starting this campaign straight off a failed World Cup qualifying campaign, without the summer minutes Norway's squad has just banked. Both sides face Portugal and Wales later in the group, but Thursday's game in Oslo is the first form guide either will have for the season. Follow the build-up and the rest of the round on the live match list.
Norway vs Denmark prediction
Norway should beat Denmark at Ullevaal Stadion on Thursday in their opening UEFA Nations League A fixture. Norway go into the game with a settled attack that has scored in nine of its last ten outings, while Denmark have one clean result in their last two and a squad missing four first-team players. Losing Ødegaard is a blow, but Haaland's form and Norway's summer momentum should be enough to see off a Danish side still finding its feet under Riemer.
Our prediction: Norway 2-1 Denmark
Make your prediction
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