Will Norway win on 2026-09-27?

Analysis

Norway have won just one of their last eleven meetings with Portugal, drawing two and losing eight, and have failed to score in six of those games, a record that weighs heavily on Sunday's Group A4 opener at Ullevaal Stadion. That history matters because Norway arrive off a fresh confidence boost, having come from behind to beat Denmark 3-2 in their opening Nations League match, with captain Martin Odegaard again central to the display after racking up fifteen goal involvements in his last thirteen appearances for the national side. Portugal, meanwhile, opened their own campaign with a 1-0 win over Wales, a result that keeps their momentum intact without revealing much about how they would cope with a rejuvenated Norwegian side chasing an early result at home. Expected lineups point to strength on both sides, with Portugal fielding a spine built around Ruben Dias, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes, while Norway's back line features Julian Ryerson, Kristoffer Ajer and Torbjorn Heggem in front of Orjan Nyland. Given the long run of head-to-head struggles, a Norwegian win looks the harder outcome to back, with a draw or a Portugal victory the more likely paths. The team sheets, once officially confirmed rather than just reported as expected, will be the detail most likely to shift the picture before kickoff.