Norwegian football rides a European wave: 'Wild to think about'

Norwegian football is currently experiencing a historic surge in European success, with clubs like Bodø/Glimt and Viking securing spots in the Champions League league stage. This remarkable achievement extends to three other Norwegian teams actively competing for places in various European competitions, generating immense excitement among fans and stakeholders.

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Now it's been a couple of wild days, simply put. There's a momentum that continues from the summer and into the autumn here now.

Jens Haugland, director of Norwegian Professional Football (Norsk Toppfotball), described the recent days as "wild" and highlighted the momentum carrying over from summer into autumn. He acknowledged the significant interest this success generates for local fans and television audiences, noting that the national team's activities this autumn will further amplify the football conversation. "For those tired of football, just prepare yourselves, because it's not going to be quiet ahead," Haugland stated.

Haugland emphasized the critical question of how Norwegian football will effectively manage this newfound interest and the associated financial gains. He pointed to Viking's use of eight Norwegian starters and Bodø/Glimt's consistent deployment of homegrown talent as examples of a preferred development-oriented strategy. "We want to have a development-oriented strategy where we develop players ourselves. That is significantly more charming and more long-term than other strategies," he explained.

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What lies ahead of us now, both for local fans and on TV, well, it's actually quite wild to think about. And then we have a national team in addition this autumn, so ... those who are tired of football just have to prepare themselves for the fact that it won't exactly be quiet ahead.

The success is not just about prestige; it translates into crucial financial benefits. Eliteserien clubs collectively earned 2.7 billion kroner in revenue in 2025, with an additional 772 million from player transfers. Haugland stressed that as a member-owned organization, Norwegian clubs rely on successful player sales and domestic commercial revenue to compete in Europe. "If we are to be part of the show in Europe, we must succeed with player sales and with creating commercial revenues in our own country. And that is why Europe is so incredibly important," he said.

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That is the best question here. Now Viking has fielded two starting elevens in the qualifiers with eight Norwegians, and Bodø/Glimt has fielded eleven and ten Norwegians respectively.

This European success also creates intense competition domestically. While clubs like Rosenborg and Vålerenga are currently outside the European spotlight, Haugland believes they are keenly aware of the need to elevate their performance. The recent record transfer of Amin Chiakha by Rosenborg for an estimated four to five million euros underscores the financial stakes involved in competing at the highest level.

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We want to have a development-oriented strategy where we develop players ourselves. That is significantly more charming and more long-term than other strategies.