UEFA Nations
2026-09-24 - Norway vs Denmark
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Nations League Match Day 1
Thursday 24th September 2026 - Kick Off 7:45pm
This game is live on TV
Norway
They may have eventually ran out of steam, but Norway's 2026 World Cup will be looked back as a big success even after the Quarter Final defeat to England. It is the first major international tournament in which Norway have even competed since Euro 2000, while the national team have been developing in the Nations League and have finally earned promotion all the way through to League A.
With the likes of Martin Odegaard and Erling Haaland in the squad, Norway will feel there is more to come and the next competition in which they are competing is the Nations League before Qualifiers for Euro 2028 get underway. The side topped a Group containing Austria, Slovenia and Kazakhstan in the last running of the Nations League and Norway will be expecting to reach the Quarter Final of the 2026/27 edition of the tournament.
Norway were beaten by England in Extra Time and that does mean they have only lost 1 of the last 9 games played in normal time, while winning 5 times. They not only won all 3 home games in the last Nations League, but Norway also won all 4 home games in the 2026 World Cup Qualifying Group as well.
Denmark
It is unsurprising that Italy's failure to reach the expanded World Cup Finals made all of the headlines, but Denmark fans will have been really disappointed that the national team missed out this past summer. Conceding twice in injury time meant Denmark finished behind Scotland in the Qualifying Group, but then the team suffered another heartbreak when losing a Penalty Shoot Out in the last Play Off fixture against Czechia.
The last time the Nations League was run, Denmark were beaten in the Quarter Final by eventual Winners Portugal, although they had pushed the opponent all the way before losing in Extra Time in the Second Leg. The loss at Hampden Park means Denmark have been beaten in 3 of the last 7 away games played in competitive matches, although they did win 2 of 3 in the last Nations League Group Stage.
Denmark have won 2 of the last 6 games and some of the failures have been incredibly disappointing. They have only lost 1 of the last 4 away games played in competitive football, but that is the decisive defeat in Scotland in the last World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Head to Head
Denmark beat Norway 3-1 in an international friendly played in June 2024.
These two nations have not faced one another in a match hosted by Norway since the Euro 2012 Qualifiers and that was in a fixture that ended 1-1.
Prediction
There is plenty for Denmark to prove after missing out on the World Cup Finals and a strong Nations League campaign will at least set them up for a good draw in the Euro 2028 Qualifiers.
However, the likes of Portugal and Norway make up part of the four team Group and this is a very tough opener for Denmark.
After reaching the World Cup Quarter Final, Norway look like a European nation that will continue to grow as long as they can keep some of the superstar names healthy. It had been twenty-six years since they last played in a major international competition, but Norway have been developing the right way in recent years and joining League A of the Nations League underlines the progress being made.
Norway's home form gives them an edge in this Nations League opener and the attacking players are capable of scoring against any opponent they will face.
Denmark have shown some away resiliency, but it feels like these two nations have crossed over in terms of quality that has been produced in recent years and Norway can underline that by opening this Group with a home victory.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Norway 2-1 Denmark
