Honestly, if you're looking at Norway women's national football team games just for the final score, you're missing the real story. This isn't just a team; it's a massive, complicated legacy currently trying to find its feet again. People see names like Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen and think "easy win," but it's rarely that simple.
Norway used to be the boss. They won the 1995 World Cup, the 2000 Olympics, and Euros in '87 and '93. But the world caught up. Now, every match feels like a high-wire act where the pressure of that "golden era" history weighs down every single pass.
The Current State of Play
Right now, the team is under the direction of Gemma Grainger, who took the reins in early 2024. She's basically trying to modernize a squad that has some of the best individual players on the planet but has struggled to work as a cohesive unit in major tournaments.
Just look at the recent Nations League results. In the 2025 campaign, Norway ended up second in Group A2 behind France. They're not getting blown away, but they aren't dominating like they used to.
- 21 February 2025: A narrow 1-0 loss to France.
- 25 February 2025: A solid 2-1 win over Switzerland.
- 30 May 2025: A frustrating 1-1 draw with Iceland.
- 03 June 2025: Grinding out a 1-0 win against the Swiss.
It's this weird middle ground. They can beat the mid-tier teams, but when they face a powerhouse like Spain or Germany, things get... dicey.
Recent Form and the Euro 2025 Heartbreak
The 2025 European Championship was supposed to be the big "we're back" moment. They fought through a tough group with Switzerland, Finland, and Iceland. They actually looked great in the group stages, especially that wild 4-3 win against Iceland on July 10th.
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Then came the quarter-final against Italy on July 16, 2025.
It was a gut-punch. 2-1 to Italy. Cristiana Girelli basically ended the Norwegian dream, and suddenly, the same old questions about "underachieving" started circulating again.
Upcoming Schedule: The Road to 2027
If you want to catch Norway women's national football team games in 2026, the focus is entirely on World Cup Qualification. The group is tricky—Austria and Germany are both standing in the way.
Here is what the calendar looks like for the first half of the year:
- March 3, 2026: Away vs. Austria. This is a massive game. Austria has become a tactical nightmare for Norway lately.
- March 7, 2026: Home vs. Germany. This is the big one. If Norway wants to prove they belong in the top tier, they have to take points from the Germans.
- April 14, 2026: Home vs. Slovenia.
- April 18, 2026: Away vs. Slovenia.
- June 5, 2026: The return leg away in Germany.
- June 9, 2026: Home vs. Austria to close out this phase.
Missing out on a World Cup isn't an option for a nation with this much talent, but it’s going to be a dogfight.
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Who is actually on the pitch?
The squad is a mix of legends and the "next big things." Obviously, Ada Hegerberg is the focal point. Even after all the injuries and the years away from the team in protest, she's still the captain and the one everyone looks to for a goal out of nothing.
But Caroline Graham Hansen is probably the best player on the team right now. Her form for Barcelona is legendary, and when she carries that over to the national team, Norway looks unstoppable.
Then you have the younger guard like Celin Bizet Ildhusøy. She’s been great at Manchester United and brings a different kind of energy—less "prestige" and more "grind." Keep an eye on Frida Maanum in the midfield too; her ability to strike from distance is a game-changer when the forwards are being marked out of the match.
How to Actually Watch the Games
It depends on where you are, but generally, most Norway women's national football team games are broadcast through the major networks in Norway (like NRK or TV2).
For those of us outside Scandinavia:
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- UEFA.tv: Often carries live streams of Nations League and European Qualifiers for free in territories where there isn't a broadcast deal.
- DAZN: They've become the home of women's football globally. Check their schedule a few days before any international break.
- FuboTV: Often picks up the international feeds for viewers in the US.
Actionable Steps for Fans
If you're following this journey, don't just check the score after the game.
Track the tactical shifts. Under Grainger, Norway is trying to move away from a traditional 4-4-2 toward a more fluid 4-3-3 that lets Graham Hansen roam. Watch if she's staying wide or cutting inside—that usually dictates how the game goes.
Watch the Austria match on March 3rd. That game will tell you everything you need to know about Norway's mental state. If they can handle the high-press of a disciplined Austrian side, they’re ready for the big stage.
Get tickets early. If you're in Norway, home games are usually played at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo or Brann Stadion in Bergen. They’ve been drawing much better crowds lately, and the atmosphere for the Germany game in March is going to be electric.
Norway is at a crossroads. They have the superstars. They have the history. Now they just need the consistency.