Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has expressed confidence that Norway can reverse their recent loss to Wales, despite snow disrupting the team's preparations ahead of their Nations League clash on 14 November. According to BBC Sport, the match will take place at the Ullevaal Stadion as both nations battle to avoid relegation from the top tier of the competition.
Wales secured a 2-1 victory over the World Cup quarter-finalists in Cardiff last month, marking their sole win of the campaign. Norway head coach Stale Solbakken acknowledged that his team's first-half display in that defeat represented their poorest performance in two years, a lapse the squad is determined to correct.
Adverse weather forced Norway to conduct training indoors on Thursday, as snow covered the Ullevaal Stadion pitch—a surface that had faced criticism earlier in the year before undergoing repairs over the summer. The snow was cleared by Friday, enabling the team to resume normal field work as they seek to climb away from the bottom of Group A4.
Both teams currently hold three points from four matches out of six, though Wales occupy third place due to their superior head-to-head record. According to BBC Sport's match statistics, Norway had scored six goals and conceded eight across their four group fixtures, while Wales had managed two goals and conceded five.
Odegaard acknowledged the disruption caused by the weather but remained philosophical about the circumstances.
Obviously we wanted to train yesterday, so it's not ideal but you have to adapt to the situation, and I think it's not the end of the world,the midfielder said.
Reflecting on the Cardiff defeat, Odegaard identified a significant drop in standards as the root cause of the loss.
Our level was not where it should be. I think it's probably the only game for a long time where we haven't been playing to our standards.He went on to praise Wales as opponents while emphasising Norway's capacity to perform better.
Wales is a good team, a competitive team, lots of good players in big leagues and a physical team as well, and we were prepared for that. But I think on the day we were just not showing up to our standards and that's something we want to show tomorrow [Saturday], and we can do a lot better. We want to show a different version tomorrow.
How have both teams performed in the group stage?
Norway's form has deteriorated sharply in recent weeks. After remaining unbeaten through 2025 and impressing during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals, the Scandinavian side have now lost three consecutive matches. They suffered 2-1 defeats against Portugal either side of their loss to Wales, leaving them in a precarious position in the standings.
Wales began their Nations League campaign poorly, losing 1-0 to Portugal in their opening fixture. However, their victory over Norway has provided a foundation upon which they hope to build, though they remain in a battle to avoid potential relegation from the competition's top tier alongside Norway.
What are the stakes for both nations?
Both teams retain a mathematical chance of finishing second behind leaders Portugal, who had already secured a place in the Nations League quarter-finals before this fixture. However, the primary concern for both Norway and Wales is avoiding relegation from League A, making Saturday's encounter crucial for their tournament survival.
Solbakken characterised the intensity of the competition between the two sides in vivid terms.
It's like a boxing game, going head-to-head, fist-to-fist,he said. The Norwegian coach acknowledged Wales' attacking threat under Craig Bellamy's management, noting their progress with possession and the pace they generate from wide positions.
I think Wales has always been a very attacking team under Bellamy. They've had great progress with the ball. I think it suits the team with the offensive players they have, the speed on the wings and Harry Wilson back. And [Lewis] Koumas getting more minutes for Liverpool, so I think that suits them. I'm not surprised that they will go all in but it's our home game so obviously I think they will also have their struggles with us. Let's see.
Wales head coach Bellamy and winger Daniel James, who scored in the Cardiff victory, have indicated they are aware of Norway's desire for revenge. When asked whether that motivation served as an incentive for his own squad, Solbakken reframed the narrative.
I think both teams need to win the game, so you can call it revenge or whatever.
What went wrong for Norway in Cardiff?
Solbakken was unsparing in his assessment of Norway's performance in their previous meeting with Wales.
I think we were very passive in the first half against Wales. We had no intensity in our play. We were decent with the ball, but we were crap without the ball. Overall, they deserved to lead by half-time and then there was our red card one minute into the second half. I think the first half was our worst performance in two years, we have to be honest about that.
The dismissal early in the second half compounded Norway's difficulties, leaving them to chase the game with a numerical disadvantage. Solbakken identified two clear objectives for his team moving forward.
It's two aims for us now in this football year. That is to at least be going for the third place first, and that we can do tomorrow. It's a crucial game.
What happens next?
The final Group A4 fixtures are scheduled for 17 November, when Denmark will face Norway and Wales will take on Portugal. Those matches will determine the final standings and confirm which teams advance or face potential relegation from the top tier of the Nations League.
