Live Blog: Norway vs. Portugal | UEFA Nations League
Haaland against CR7. Norway and Portugal both enter this early battle for the top spot in Group A of the Nations League after opening the competition with victories. Oslo hosts a matchup between a Norwegian side coming off an impressive run at the World Cup and the reigning Nations League champion.
EVERYTHING IS READY IN OSLO! Norway and Portugal are preparing for their second match of this UEFA Nations League campaign.
The big news comes from the Portuguese starting XI: Cristiano Ronaldo DOES NOT START. The captain begins the match on the bench, meaning Portugal will have to find other attacking solutions while waiting for the right moment to turn to CR7.
Norway, meanwhile, has home-field advantage and will look to make it count against one of Europe’s strongest national teams.
EVERYTHING IS SET IN OSLO FOR THE SECOND CHAPTER OF THIS NATIONS LEAGUE CAMPAIGN!
🇳🇴 Norway vs Portugal 🇵🇹
Haaland Returns to Oslo After a Perfect Start
Norway needed only one match to show that its debut in League A will be about much more than simply competing.
The team coached by Ståle Solbakken defeated Denmark 3-2 on Thursday at this same Ullevaal Stadion. Oscar Bobb opened the scoring before Haaland struck twice to decide a match the Danes had managed to level at 2-2.
The Manchester City striker’s second goal, scored in the 74th minute, ultimately proved to be the winner.
The performance took Haaland to 57 goals in 50 international appearances, according to UEFA’s official statistics, while he already has two goals from his first appearance in this edition of the Nations League.
But Norway is no longer entirely dependent on its star striker. Martin Ødegaard remains responsible for organizing the team, while Antonio Nusa, Bobb, Sander Berge and Fredrik Aursnes are part of a generation that reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Norway Lineup
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal Defend Their Crown
On the other side is a national team that knows this competition extremely well.
Portugal is the reigning UEFA Nations League champion and began its title defense with a 1-0 victory over Wales in Lisbon. João Félix scored the only goal of the match in the 22nd minute after receiving a pass from Nuno Mendes.
It was also Jorge Jesus’ first official match as Portugal head coach after taking charge following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo started against Wales and remains in the squad for the match in Oslo. At 41, the captain has 143 goals in 229 international appearances according to UEFA’s records, along with 15 career goals in the Nations League.
Around the forward is a squad loaded with talent, including Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, João Neves, Bernardo Silva, Rafael Leão, Pedro Neto, João Félix and Nuno Mendes.
Portugal Lineup
Haaland vs. Cristiano Ronaldo Takes Center Stage
There are plenty of storylines surrounding the match, but it is impossible to ignore the two strikers.
Haaland, 26, arrives after scoring twice in the opening round. Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, remains the captain of a Portuguese team beginning a new era without giving up its ambition of defending the title.
They represent two completely different generations and two of international soccer’s great goalscorers going head-to-head.
The match also finds Norway enjoying one of the best periods in its recent history. After returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, the Norwegians reached the quarterfinals this summer and eliminated Brazil before falling to England. UEFA records victories over Ivory Coast and Brazil, followed by a 2-1 defeat to the English.
Portugal, meanwhile, also reached the World Cup quarterfinals, where it was eliminated by Spain after overcoming Croatia in the previous round.
Portugal Holds a Commanding Head-to-Head Advantage
History clearly favors the Portuguese.
According to UEFA’s official match dossier, Portugal and Norway have met 11 times. The Portuguese have recorded eight victories and two draws, while suffering only one defeat.
Norway’s only victory came on September 7, 2010, when the Norwegians earned a 1-0 win during qualifying for Euro 2012.
Their most recent meeting came in May 2016 and ended with a 3-0 victory for Portugal.
Ten years later, they meet again under very different circumstances: both teams have three points, and the winner can take sole possession of first place in Group A4.
They will not have to wait long for another meeting. The return fixture is scheduled for October 4 in Portugal.
Match Information
Match: Norway vs. Portugal
Competition: 2026/27 UEFA Nations League
League: League A
Group: A4
Matchday: 2
Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
Time: 2:45 PM ET / 11:45 AM PT / 8:45 PM in Oslo
Stadium: Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo
- Norway and Portugal enter Matchday 2 with three points after defeating Denmark and Wales, respectively.
- Erling Haaland opened his Nations League campaign with a brace and has 57 goals in 50 international appearances according to UEFA.
- Portugal leads the all-time series with eight victories in 11 meetings, while Norway has defeated the Portuguese only once.
