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Norwegian First Division
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
 | |
| Founded | 1948 2015–present (as OBOS-ligaen) 2014 (as 1. divisjon) 2005–2013 (as Adeccoligaen) 1991–2004 (as 1. divisjon) 1963–1990 (as 2. divisjon) 1948–1951 (as 1. divisjon) |
|---|---|
| Country | Norway |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Number of clubs | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Eliteserien |
| Relegation to | Norwegian Second Division |
| Domestic cup | Norwegian Cup |
| Current champions | Lillestrøm (1st title) (2025) |
| Most championships | HamKam Vålerenga (7 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | TV 2 |
| Website | obos-ligaen.no |
| Current: 2025 Norwegian First Division | |
| Norwegian football league structure |
|---|
| Eliteserien (Tier 1) |
| First Division (Tier 2) |
| Second Division (Tier 3) |
| Third Division (Tier 4) |
| Fourth Division (Tier 5) |
| Fifth Division (Tier 6) |
| Sixth Division (Tier 7) |
| Seventh Division (Tier 8) |
| Eighth Division (Tier 9) |
| Ninth Division (Tier 10) |
| Tenth Division (Tier 11) |
The Norwegian First Division, also called 1. divisjon (Norwegian: første divisjon) and OBOS-ligaen (due to sponsoring ties with OBOS), is the second-highest level of the Norwegian football league system. Each year, the top finishing teams in the 1. divisjon are promoted to the Eliteserien, and the lowest finishing teams are relegated to 2. divisjon.
1. divisjon was previously known as 2. divisjon (1963–1990) and replaced regional league Landsdelsserien (1951–1962) after the latter was dissolved after the 1961–62 season. The second tier was also prior to Landsdelsserien known as 1. divisjon (1948–1951). Formally, it was a semi-professional league.[1] The tier has been restructured many times and consists of 16 teams at present.
History
[edit]Between 1963 and 1990, the second highest level in Norwegian football was named 2. divisjon. In 1991, due to rebranding of the top flight level in 1990, it was renamed to its initial name; 1. divisjon. 1. divisjon has been the name of this level ever since, except for periods when the league has had a sponsor-affiliated name. Between 2005 and 2013 the level was known as Adeccoligaen and from 2015 to 2020 the name is OBOS-ligaen.
Format
[edit]Previous
[edit]In the 1997 season, 1. divisjon merged from two divisions consisting of 12 teams each, to only one with 14 teams. In the 2001 season, 1. divisjon expanded from 14 to 16 teams. Only two teams were relegated in the 2000 season. In 2009, the number of teams in Eliteserien expanded from 14 to 16. Therefore, only one team was relegated to 1. divisjon, whilst three teams were promoted to Tippeligaen.[2]
Current
[edit]Since 2012 four teams, finishing 3rd to 6th, has qualified for promotion play-offs. In the 2017 season the relegation format was changed. The previous format where four teams were relegated was replaced with a format with two relegation spots and one relegation play-off spot.
The league is contested by 16 teams. During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice, home and away, for a total of 30 games for each club, and a total of 240 games in a season. The season starts in April and lasts until early November. The top two teams will be promoted to Eliteserien, while the teams placed from third to sixth place will play a promotion-playoff against each other to earn the right to play a two-legged game against the 14th-placed team in Eliteserien to win promotion. The bottom two teams will be relegated to the 2. divisjon known as PostNord-ligaen, and the team in 14th place will play a two-legged playoff against the play-off winner among the two-second-placed teams in 2. divisjon.[3]
Changes in competition format
[edit]| From | To | Group(s) | Teams | Match-weeks | Season Start | Season End | Dir. promoted | Promotion play-off spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948–49 | 1950–51 | 11 | 83–84 | 10–14 | Autumn | Spring | none | 11 |
| 1951–52 | 1960–61 | 7 | 54 | 12–14 | 2 | 5 | ||
| 1961–62 | 55 | 18–21 | ||||||
| 1963 | 1971 | 2 | 16 | 14 | Spring | Autumn | 2 | none |
| 1972 | 1975 | 2 + 2 districts | 35–36 | 10–14 | 3 | |||
| 1976 | 2 + 1 district | 28 | 14–18 | |||||
| 1977 | 1978 | 30 | 18 | |||||
| 1979 | 1993 | 2 | 24 | 22 | 2 | |||
| 1994 | 4 | none | ||||||
| 1995 | 1996 | 2 | 2 | |||||
| 1997 | 2000 | 1 | 14 | 26 | 1 | |||
| 2001 | 2007 | 16 | 30 | |||||
| 2008 | 3 | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2 | 3 | |||||
| 2011 | none | |||||||
| 2012 | Present | 4 | ||||||
Current members
[edit]The following 16 clubs are competing in the 2025 Norwegian First Division.
| Team | Location | County | Arena | Turf | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aalesund | Ålesund | Møre og Romsdal | Color Line Stadion | Artificial | 10,778 |
| Egersund | Egersund | Rogaland | B&G Parken | Artificial | 1,200 |
| Hødd | Ulsteinvik | Møre og Romsdal | Høddvoll | Artificial | 4,081 |
| Kongsvinger | Kongsvinger | Innlandet | Gjemselund | Artificial | 5,824 |
| Lillestrøm | Lillestrøm | Akershus | Åråsen | Natural | 12,250 |
| Lyn | Oslo | Oslo | Bislett | Natural | 15,400 |
| Mjøndalen | Mjøndalen | Buskerud | Consto Arena | Artificial | 4,200 |
| Moss | Moss | Østfold | Melløs | Natural | 2,373 |
| Odd | Skien | Telemark | Skagerak Arena | Artificial | 11,767 |
| Ranheim | Trondheim | Trøndelag | EXTRA Arena | Artificial | 3,000 |
| Raufoss | Raufoss | Innlandet | NAMMO Stadion | Artificial | 3,042 |
| Skeid | Oslo | Oslo | OBOS Idrettspark Nordre Åsen | Artificial | 1,486 |
| Sogndal | Sogndalsfjøra | Vestland | Fosshaugane Campus | Artificial | 5,622 |
| Stabæk | Bærum | Akershus | Nadderud | Artificial | 4,938 |
| Start | Kristiansand | Agder | Sparebanken Sør Arena | Artificial | 14,448 |
| Åsane | Bergen | Vestland | Åsane Arena | Artificial | 3,300 |
Sponsorship
[edit]Ahead of the 2015 season, a six-year deal was agreed with the housing cooperative OBOS. In the period from 2015 to 2020, 1. divisjon will be named OBOS-ligaen.[4]
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1948–1951 | No sponsor | 1. divisjon |
| 1951–1962 | Landsdelsserien | |
| 1963–1990 | 2. divisjon | |
| 1991–2004 | 1. divisjon | |
| 2005–2013 | Adecco | Adeccoligaen |
| 2014 | No sponsor | 1. divisjon |
| 2015– | OBOS | OBOS-ligaen |
1. divisjon has a number of official partners and suppliers. The official ball supplier for the league is Umbro who on 20 February 2020 signed the first ever contract to deliver official balls for OBOS-ligaen.[5] The two-year deal began from the start of the 2020 season.
Statistics
[edit]From 1963 to 1990, the second tier in Norwegian football was named 2. divisjon. Until 1996, the 1. divisjon teams was split in two groups. This statistics shows the winning cubs, runners-ups, play-off teams, top goal scorer and the league's average attendances starting with the first one-group 1. divisjon season in 1997. Teams in bold won the promotion play-offs and were promoted to Eliteserien.
References
[edit]- ^ "TURNERINGSBESTEMMELSER NFF ADECCOLIGAEN 2013" (PDF). ekstranett.fotball.no. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Tippeligaen utvides til 16 lag". Football Association of Norway (in Norwegian). 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 4 August 2008. Retrieved 20 March 2008.
- ^ "2014 Bestemmelser om KM, opp- og nedrykk" [Rules for promotion and relegation, 2014] (PDF). Football Association of Norway. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
- ^ "PM: 1. divisjon blir OBOS-ligaen" [Press release: 1. divisjon becomes the OBOS league]. ToppFotball.no (in Norwegian). Norsk Toppfotball. 15 January 2015. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.
- ^ "OBOS-ligaen får offisiell ligaball". eurosport.no (in Norwegian). Eurosport. 20 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ Both teams promoted directly because of the Tippeligaen extension to 16 teams in the 2009 season
External links
[edit]- Official website
- 1.division summary(SOCCERWAY)
- 1. Division 2015 season results, fixtures and league table at Soccerway
- First division 2015 by round/date, at RSSSF
| League competitions |
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup competitions |
| ||||
| Defunct cup competitions |
| ||||
| Playoff competitions |
| ||||
| Youth competitions |
| ||||
| National teams | |||||
| Others | |||||
| Lists and categories | |||||
Norwegian First Division
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Overview
League structure and organization
The Norwegian First Division, known as OBOS-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, serves as the second-highest tier in the Norwegian football league system and is administered by the Football Association of Norway (NFF).[6] The league operates under NFF's overarching governance, which sets the rules for participation, licensing, and compliance to ensure competitive integrity and sustainable operations. The league currently comprises 16 teams that compete in a double round-robin format, with each team playing 30 matches—15 home and 15 away—over the course of the season.[6] This structure has been in place since 2001, following the expansion from 14 teams. Clubs must obtain an annual license from the NFF to participate, which mandates adherence to sporting, administrative, and financial standards.[7] Historically semi-professional, the league has evolved toward greater professionalization through NFF's club licensing system introduced in the early 2000s, requiring clubs to professionalize aspects like player contracts, staff qualifications, and financial management.[8] Player contracts must comply with NFF regulations, including minimum age requirements (14 years by season start) and standardized numbering from 1 to 22 for registered players, enabling full-time professional engagements while allowing flexibility for emerging talents.[6] Financial requirements emphasize stability, including positive consolidated equity (potentially supported by responsible loans), a liquidity ratio exceeding 2, and submission of audited annual budgets to mitigate risks and promote long-term viability.[8] Key organizational rules include squad composition limits, with a maximum of 25 registered players per club.[9] To foster youth development, clubs must include at least 16 locally developed players (LUS) in their squad, of which a minimum of 2 must be club-developed—defined as players registered with the club for at least 3 seasons or 36 months between ages 12 and 21—leaving up to 9 spots for non-local players.[9] These quotas, aligned with UEFA guidelines, aim to balance talent nurturing with competitive needs.[9]Role in the Norwegian football pyramid
The Norwegian football league pyramid is structured with the Eliteserien as the top tier, followed by the First Division (also known as 1. divisjon or OBOS-ligaen for sponsorship reasons) as the second tier, and the 2. divisjon (PostNord-ligaen) as the third tier, with further regional divisions below that.[6] This hierarchical system, administered by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), ensures a clear pathway for clubs to ascend through competitive performance.[10] The First Division plays a pivotal role as the primary promotion pathway to the Eliteserien, directly influencing the composition of Norway's top flight. The top two teams are automatically promoted, while the third- through sixth-placed teams compete in a playoff bracket, with the winner facing the 14th-placed team from the Eliteserien in a two-legged tie for the final promotion spot. Conversely, the bottom two teams (15th and 16th) are automatically relegated to the 2. divisjon, and the 14th-placed team enters a playoff against a qualifier from the lower tier to determine survival.[6] This mechanism fosters intense competition and mobility across the pyramid.[2] Beyond promotion dynamics, the First Division serves as a crucial platform for talent development, bridging youth academies and the professional elite. It provides essential senior-level experience for young players emerging from NFF-supported programs, such as the Academy Classification Model, which emphasizes holistic growth in technical, tactical, and psychological skills across Norwegian clubs.[11] Relegated Eliteserien teams often integrate academy prospects into their squads to rebuild, while ambitious lower-tier clubs use the league to nurture prospects for potential transfers abroad, contributing to Norway's pipeline of international stars.[10] Economically and culturally, the First Division sustains regional representation and community engagement in smaller cities and northern areas, where clubs like Tromsø IL or Bodø/Glimt maintain strong local fan bases and boost tourism through matches.[10] This decentralized structure enhances football's accessibility across Norway's diverse geography, fostering grassroots participation and economic activity in non-metropolitan regions without the financial dominance of the top tier.[12]History
Foundation and early development
The Norwegian First Division, originally designated as the 2. divisjon, was founded in 1963 as the second tier of the Norwegian football league system, coinciding with the restructuring of the top flight into a national 1. divisjon comprising 10 teams. This reorganization followed the dissolution of the previous second-tier Landsdelsserien, which had operated on a regional basis from 1951 to 1962, and marked a shift toward a more centralized national framework under the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF). The new second division consisted of 16 teams divided into two groups of eight, reflecting an initial regionalized structure within a national competition to accommodate geographical diversity while promoting competitive balance.[13] In its inaugural 1963 season, the league operated on a spring-to-autumn calendar, with each group playing a double round-robin format over 14 matches. Sandefjord BK topped Group A with 24 points from 11 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss, while Raufoss IL claimed Group B with 21 points from 10 wins, 1 draw, and 3 losses; both winners were promoted to the 1. divisjon, establishing the initial promotion system tied to the amateur regulations of the era, which prohibited professional contracts and restricted player compensation to expenses only. The bottom two teams from each group were relegated to the third tier, facilitating integration with the regional leagues below. This setup addressed logistical challenges in a country with sparse population centers but faced hurdles in unifying disparate regional traditions.[14] Early development was hampered by the strictly amateur status of Norwegian football, which persisted until partial semi-professional allowances in the 1980s, limiting talent development and financial incentives for clubs. Attendance remained low, often in the low thousands per match, due to competing interests like outdoor activities in Norway's long summers and the lack of broadcast exposure, exacerbating financial strains on participating teams. Despite these obstacles, the league provided a vital pathway for clubs from regional competitions to national prominence, laying the groundwork for gradual professionalization.[15]Expansion, reforms, and modern era
During the 1970s and 1980s, the Norwegian First Division expanded significantly to include more regional clubs, with the number of teams growing through the merger and restructuring of lower divisions to foster broader participation in national competition. This expansion allowed for greater geographical representation and helped transition the league from a semi-professional to a more organized structure.[16] In the 1990s, reforms aligned the second tier with the creation of the top-tier Eliteserien (formerly Tippeligaen from 1991), which professionalized the overall pyramid by standardizing promotion and relegation pathways; the league was renamed 1. divisjon in 1991. In 1997, the two-group structure was merged into a single division of 14 teams, and it expanded to 16 teams in 2001. These changes emphasized financial stability and competitive balance, as the separation of tiers encouraged investment in second-division clubs to compete for promotion. A playoff system for the promotion spot was introduced in 2005, with further refinements in 2012 when teams finishing 3rd to 6th in 1. divisjon compete in playoffs for the right to face the 14th-placed Eliteserien team.[17] The 2010s brought further reforms, including full professional licensing requirements implemented by Norges Fotballforbund (NFF) aligned with UEFA standards. These licenses ensure sustainable operations for clubs meeting criteria for infrastructure, youth development, and financial transparency, with non-compliance risking relegation or exclusion.[18] In recent years, the league has focused on recovery and modernization following the COVID-19 pandemic, with the 2025 season returning to a full April-to-November schedule of 30 matches per team to rebuild attendance and revenue streams. The NFF has promoted digital ticketing through partnerships and apps to enhance fan engagement and efficiency. These developments underscore the league's adaptation to contemporary challenges while maintaining its role as a key talent pipeline.[19]Competition format
Season structure and scheduling
The Norwegian First Division, known as OBOS-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, operates on an annual calendar designed to align with Norway's climate and international commitments. The season typically begins in late March and concludes in early November, avoiding the harshest winter months when natural grass pitches would be unplayable. For the 2025 season, fixtures commenced on March 31 and ended on November 8, encompassing 30 match rounds over approximately seven months.[20][4] The competition follows a double round-robin format among 16 teams, with each club facing every opponent twice—once at home and once away—for a total of 30 matches per team and 240 fixtures overall. This structure ensures a balanced assessment of team performance across the season, with matches distributed to maximize competitive equity. The fixture list is published in advance by the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF), incorporating pauses for FIFA international match windows in March, June, September, and October to accommodate national team obligations. Midweek games are limited to occasional rounds, primarily to allow player recovery and maintain attendance, while the widespread use of artificial turf pitches mitigates weather disruptions, enabling consistent scheduling even in cooler autumn conditions.[4][21] Tie-breaking procedures resolve standings when teams finish level on points. The primary criterion is goal difference, followed by total goals scored. If still tied, head-to-head results are considered: points earned in mutual matches, then goal difference in those games, and finally goals scored in head-to-head encounters. Additional steps include fair play points (based on disciplinary records) and, as a last resort, a lottery draw supervised by the NFF. These rules promote fair play and decisiveness without requiring extra matches during the regular season.[22]Promotion, relegation, and playoffs
The promotion and relegation system in the Norwegian First Division (OBOS-ligaen) facilitates movement between the second tier and both the top-tier Eliteserien and the third-tier 2. divisjon (PostNord-ligaen), promoting competitive integrity across the league pyramid. At the conclusion of the 30-match regular season, the teams finishing first and second in the standings are automatically promoted to the Eliteserien, joining the 14 lowest-placed teams from the top flight for the next campaign.[6] Teams placed third through sixth qualify for a promotion playoff, a single-elimination knockout tournament designed to determine the challenger for an additional Eliteserien spot. The bracket consists of single-leg knockout matches. The fifth-placed team hosts the sixth in the first round. The winner then travels to face the fourth-placed team. The winner of that match then travels to face the third-placed team. The overall winner advances to face the 14th-placed team from the Eliteserien in a decisive two-legged playoff, where the aggregate score decides the final promotion; the first leg's venue is determined by lot, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg if tied. This structure emphasizes home advantage for higher-ranked teams and was refined in 2018 to incorporate the inter-league final, replacing direct promotion for only the top two and adjusting relegation dynamics in the Eliteserien to two automatic drops plus a playoff.[6][23] Relegation sees the 15th- and 16th-placed teams directly demoted to the 2. divisjon, which comprises two regional groups of 14 teams each. The 14th-placed First Division team enters a relegation playoff against the winner of a preliminary two-legged tie between the two second-placed teams from the 2. divisjon groups. This survival playoff is contested over two legs, with venues assigned to favor the higher-division team (home second leg if necessary), and the aggregate winner retains or earns a First Division berth. The single-elimination format with home-and-away legs across both promotion and relegation playoffs adds tension to the season's closing rounds, mirroring similar structures in other European second-tier leagues.[6]Participating teams
Teams in the 2025 season
The 2025 Norwegian First Division (OBOS-ligaen) consists of 16 teams, determined by the outcomes of the previous season's competitions. Lillestrøm SK and Odd were directly relegated from the 2024 Eliteserien (Lillestrøm 15th with 24 points; Odd 16th with 23 points). IL Hødd and Skeid Fotball were directly promoted as champions of the 2024 2. divisjon (Hødd from Group 1 with 58 points; Skeid from Group 2 with 58 points). The other 12 teams qualified by finishing outside the promotion and relegation zones in the 2024 First Division. The season runs from March to November, with teams playing 30 matches each in a double round-robin format. As of November 18, 2025, the league phase is complete; promotion and relegation playoffs are scheduled to begin on November 26. Key entrants include Lillestrøm SK, which will play home matches at Åråsen Stadion in Lillestrøm. Odd Grenland is based in Skien and uses Skagerak Arena. Promoted side IL Hødd hails from Ulsteinvik and hosts games at Høddvoll Stadion. Skeid Fotball is located in Oslo and plays at Nordre Åsen Stadion. Among the remaining teams, IK Start from Kristiansand (Sparebanken Sør Arena), Kongsvinger IL (Gjemselund Stadion, Kongsvinger), Aalesunds FK (Color Line Stadion, Ålesund), Egersunds IK (B&G Parken, Egersund), Ranheim Fotball (EXTRA Arena, Trondheim), Lyn 1896 FK (Bislett Stadion, Oslo), Sogndal Fotball (Fosshaugane Campus, Sogndalsfjøra), Stabæk Fotball (Nadderud Stadion, Bekkestua), Åsane Fotball (Åsane Arena, Bergen), Raufoss IL (Nammo Stadion, Raufoss), Moss FK (Melløs Stadion, Moss), and Mjøndalen IF (Brondeel Stadion, Mjøndalen) qualified as 2024 survivors. The final league phase standings are as follows (Raufoss deducted 1 point):| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lillestrøm | 30 | 25 | 5 | 0 | 87 | 18 | +69 | 80 | Promotion to Eliteserien |
| 2 | Start | 30 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 58 | 35 | +23 | 55 | Promotion to Eliteserien |
| 3 | Kongsvinger | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 61 | 42 | +19 | 54 | Promotion playoffs |
| 4 | Aalesund | 30 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 56 | 35 | +21 | 52 | Promotion playoffs |
| 5 | Egersund | 30 | 15 | 7 | 8 | 51 | 38 | +13 | 52 | Promotion playoffs |
| 6 | Ranheim | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 48 | Promotion playoffs |
| 7 | Lyn | 30 | 14 | 5 | 11 | 48 | 37 | +11 | 47 | |
| 8 | Sogndal | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 49 | 48 | +1 | 43 | |
| 9 | Odd | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 37 | 50 | -13 | 33 | |
| 10 | Hødd | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 34 | 52 | -18 | 33 | |
| 11 | Stabæk | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 45 | 53 | -8 | 31 | |
| 12 | Åsane | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 38 | 53 | -15 | 31 | |
| 13 | Raufoss | 30 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 43 | 56 | -13 | 29 | |
| 14 | Moss | 30 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 41 | 65 | -24 | 28 | Relegation playoffs |
| 15 | Mjøndalen | 30 | 6 | 7 | 17 | 36 | 71 | -35 | 25 | Relegation to 2. divisjon |
| 16 | Skeid | 30 | 2 | 9 | 19 | 35 | 66 | -31 | 15 | Relegation to 2. divisjon |
Historical champions and notable clubs
The Norwegian First Division has produced a diverse array of champions since its launch in 1963 as the 2. divisjon, with the league often divided into regional groups until the early 1990s, leading to multiple winners per season. HamKam and Vålerenga stand out as the most successful clubs with 7 titles each, reflecting the league's role in nurturing regional talents and facilitating promotions to the Eliteserien. Other clubs like Start and Lyn have also secured multiple promotions, contributing to the league's reputation as a competitive second tier where success can launch sustained top-flight careers. To illustrate the evolution of dominance, the following table summarizes the all-time number of titles won by the most successful clubs (based on promotions as champions or playoff winners, as of 2025):| Club | Number of Titles |
|---|---|
| HamKam | 7 |
| Vålerenga | 7 |
| Start | 5 |
| Lyn | 5 |
| Sogndal | 4 |
| Bryne | 3 |