Norway women's World Cup qualifier moved from Ullevaal due to pitch concerns
Norway's women's national team will play their upcoming World Cup qualifier against Slovenia at the Åråsen Stadion instead of the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed. The switch, announced just seven days before the match scheduled for 14 April, was made due to ongoing concerns over the playing surface at the national stadium.
The federation stated the decision followed a comprehensive assessment of the pitch conditions at Ullevaal. In a public announcement, the NFF said it had given decisive importance to player safety, performance, and fair competition conditions. The statement noted that both UEFA and the Slovenian Football Association have agreed to the change of venue, with the Åråsen Stadion—the regular home of Eliteserien club Lillestrøm—considered to provide a better and safer framework for the match.
This marks the second high-profile issue with the Ullevaal pitch in recent weeks. The surface drew significant criticism during the men's international between Norway and Switzerland on 26 March, a match that ended in a 0-0 draw. The condition was so problematic that Norway men's star Erling Haaland publicly apologized to the Swiss team afterwards, while NFF president Lise Klaveness also addressed the concerns.
The upcoming match is a crucial fixture for Ada Hegerberg and her Norwegian teammates as they continue their qualification campaign for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. It will be Norway's third match in the qualifying group. The team, featuring stars like Hegerberg, Frida Maanum, and Guro Reiten, will be looking to secure a positive result to bolster their position in the group standings.
The last-minute logistical change underscores the persistent challenges faced by the federation regarding the national stadium's infrastructure. While the Åråsen Stadion offers a proven alternative, the move raises questions about the long-term plan for maintaining a pitch fit for top-level international football at Ullevaal, which hosts both the men's and women's senior national teams.
For the players, the focus will now shift to adapting to the different surroundings at Åråsen, though the venue is familiar to many as a domestic league ground. The change minimizes the risk of injury and ensures the technical quality of the qualifier is not compromised by the playing surface, a factor the federation deemed paramount in its decision-making process.
