Antonio Nusa and Andreas Schjelderup struck within nine minutes of each other, and Erling Haaland added a late penalty. Wales are guaranteed to finish bottom of Group A4 and could face a March play-off to avoid relegation.
Wales lost 3-1 to Norway in Oslo on Saturday, damaging their hopes of staying in the top tier of the Nations League. Nusa and Schjelderup scored in a nine-minute spell in the second half as the home side took control. Substitute David Brooks pulled one back 11 minutes from time, but Haaland converted a penalty after Connor Roberts brought down Schjelderup. It was Haaland’s 23rd Nations League goal, a record, and Norway avenged their October defeat in Cardiff. Wales will finish bottom of Group A4 whatever happens at home to Portugal on Tuesday.
How the goals came
Norway’s pressure built before Nusa’s opener. He had set up a chance for Sander Berge, which Liam Cullen blocked, and then struck from outside the area after a corner was only partly cleared. For the second goal, Nusa broke forward and found Haaland in the box. Haaland played a blind pass to Schjelderup, a substitute, who finished from close range. Wales finished strongly, and Brooks’s goal gave them hope, but the penalty settled it.
The penalty took Haaland’s tally to 66 goals in 60 Norway appearances, an average of 1.10 a game. He is already his country’s all-time leading scorer.
Why Wales are not yet down
Wales could still finish level on six points with Denmark and Norway, but they have a worse head-to-head record against both, so they cannot climb above them. UEFA ranks teams level on points by head-to-head results before overall goal difference, under Article 15 of the Nations League regulations.
Finishing fourth does not mean automatic relegation. Under UEFA’s revised 2026/27 format, the two highest-ranked fourth-placed teams in League A go into promotion and relegation play-offs against League B runners-up. The two lowest-ranked are relegated directly. Wales’ final points total therefore still matters. The changes are part of a wider restructuring, with the Nations League moving from four leagues to three, of 18 teams each, for the 2028/29 edition.
The draw for the knockout stage and play-offs takes place on Friday 20 November at 11am UK time. The League A/B play-offs are scheduled for 25 to 30 March 2027. Wales will learn their potential opponents only if they qualify for a play-off place.
Bellamy’s attacking approach
Wales were without Sorba Thomas and Ben Cabango, who were suspended. Joe Rodon returned to partner captain Ben Davies in central defence. Craig Bellamy started Lewis Koumas alongside Brennan Johnson, with Harry Wilson and Daniel James in wide positions. Both sides made four changes.
Speaking to S4C before kick-off, Bellamy said he had deliberately chosen an attacking approach and not set up to defend for a draw. He argued that Wales needed to match Norway’s intensity to show they belonged at the highest level. He acknowledged the risk but said his team should play without regrets. Yahoo Sports reported that he saw finishing third in the group as a major objective, because it could have secured Wales a top seeding for Euro 2028 qualifying and helped them avoid some of Europe’s strongest teams. That route is now closed. Wales had also hoped to become only the fourth visiting side to win a competitive match in Norway in three years.
Norway’s response to Cardiff
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken had called his side’s first-half display in the October defeat their worst in two years, saying the players were too passive and lacked intensity, according to Yahoo Sports. Captain Martin Ødegaard told Sky Sports that Norway had fallen well below their standard in Cardiff, though he acknowledged Wales’ attacking quality and physical strength. Goal reported that Norway came into the match on three successive 2-1 defeats, two against Portugal and the October loss to Wales, despite reaching the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals.
Heavy snow forced Norway to cancel Thursday’s training session at Ullevaal Stadium and move indoors, Sky Sports reported. Ødegaard said it would not materially affect preparation. The match began at about 1C, with 88% humidity and light wind. UEFA rated the pitch excellent despite the earlier snowfall.
Jørgen Strand Larsen withdrew from the Norway squad with an ankle injury and was replaced by Viking’s Erik Botheim. Club Brugge’s Hugo Vetlesen replaced Benfica’s Fredrik Aursnes. Alexander Sørloth returned from injury but started on the bench.
What happens next
On Tuesday 17 November, Wales host Portugal in Cardiff at 7.45pm GMT, their last chance to improve their points total. Denmark play Norway at the same time, deciding Norway’s final position and Denmark’s qualification prospects.
