Norwegian Second Division
title: "Norwegian Second Division" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["norwegian-second-division", "men's-football-leagues-in-norway", "year-of-establishment-missing", "third-level-football-leagues-in-europe", "professional-sports-leagues-in-norway"] topic_path: "geography/norway" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwegian_Second_Division" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox football league"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Norwegian Second Division |
| logo | PostNord-ligaen logo.svg |
| pixels | 400 |
| country | Norway |
| confed | UEFA |
| founded | (as 2. divisjon) |
| 2016–2025 (as PostNord-ligaen) | |
| 2012–2015 (as Oddsen-ligaen) | |
| 2009–2011 (as Fair Play ligaen) | |
| 1991–2008 (as 2. divisjon) | |
| 1963–1990 (as 3. divisjon) | |
| teams | 28 (divided into 2 groups of 14) |
| promotion | Norwegian First Division |
| relegation | Norwegian Third Division |
| level | 3 |
| domest_cup | Norwegian Cup |
| champions | Sandnes Ulf (Group 1), Strømmen (Group 2) |
| season | 2025 |
| website | |
| current | 2025 Norwegian Second Division |
| :: |
::callout[type=note] the men's division ::
| name = Norwegian Second Division | logo = PostNord-ligaen logo.svg | pixels = 400 | country = Norway | confed = UEFA | founded = (as 2. divisjon) 2016–2025 (as PostNord-ligaen) 2012–2015 (as Oddsen-ligaen) 2009–2011 (as Fair Play ligaen) 1991–2008 (as 2. divisjon) 1963–1990 (as 3. divisjon) | folded = | teams = 28 (divided into 2 groups of 14) | promotion = Norwegian First Division | relegation = Norwegian Third Division | level = 3 | domest_cup = Norwegian Cup | champions = Sandnes Ulf (Group 1), Strømmen (Group 2) | season = 2025 | tv = | website = | current = 2025 Norwegian Second Division
The Norwegian Second Division, also called 2. divisjon is the third-highest level of the Norwegian football league system.
There are 28 teams divided into two groups, and at the end of the season the winner of each group earns promotion to the second-highest division, 1. divisjon. The teams finishing in second place in their respective group will qualify for the promotion play-offs, where they will face each other. The winner will play against the 14th placed team in 1. divisjon for promotion. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to 3. divisjon.
- divisjon is the highest league a reserve team can participate in, and only reserve teams from the Eliteserien clubs (first tier) are allowed to enter. The participation of reserve teams stirs debate from time to time.
History
Between 1963 and 1990, 2. divisjon was the second highest level of the Norwegian football league system, therefore the name of the third highest level was 3. divisjon. When the highest level was rebranded in 1991, this level changed its name to 2. divisjon. From 2009 to 2011, the official name of the league was Fair Play ligaen, and from 2012 to 2015 the name was Oddsen-ligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping's betting-game called Oddsen). The league was from 2016 until 2025 branded as PostNord-ligaen, sponsored by PostNord.
Current members
The following 28 clubs are competing in the 2025 Norwegian Second Division. ;Group 1
- Arendal
- Brann 2
- Brattvåg
- Eik Tønsberg
- Fløy
- Jerv
- Lysekloster
- Notodden
- Pors
- Sandnes Ulf
- Sandviken
- Sotra
- Træff
- Vard Haugesund ;Group 2
- Alta
- Asker
- Eidsvold Turn
- Follo
- Grorud
- Hønefoss
- Kjelsås
- Levanger
- Rana
- Stjørdals-Blink
- Strindheim
- Strømmen
- Tromsdalen
- Ull/Kisa
Winners
1991–1995
All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon. ::data[format=table]
| Season | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Odd | Bærum | Vard Haugesund | Brann 2Os were promoted | Rosenborg 2Stjørdals/Blink were promoted | Bodø/Glimt |
| 1992 | Lillestrøm 2Ski were promoted | Skeid | Åssiden | Åsane | Nardo | Mjølner |
| 1993 | Jevnaker | Åndalsnes | Stabæk | Vidar | Stjørdals-Blink | Alta |
| 1994 | Sarpsborg FK | Odd Grenland | Sandefjord BK | Haugesund | Aalesund | Stålkameratene |
| 1995 | Elverum | Ullern | Mjøndalen | Vidar | Byåsen | Harstad |
| :: |
1996–2000
Each group winner played qualification play-offs to decide which teams promote to 1. divisjon. Teams in bold promoted to 1. divisjon through qualification play-offs.
::data[format=table]
| Season | Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 | Group 5 | Group 6 | Group 7 | Group 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996Byåsen and Harstad from 1. divisjon played qualification games against group winners from 2. divisjon | Sarpsborg FK | Skjetten | Runar | Vigør | Rosenborg 2Verdal finished second in Group 5 and qualified for promotion play-offs, but was not promoted. | Finnsnes | ||
| 1997 | Kjelsås | Raufoss | Ullern | Vidar | Fana | Kolstad | Strindheim | Lofoten |
| 1998 | Liv/Fossekallen | Skjetten | Ørn-Horten | Vidar | Fyllingen | Clausenengen | Rosenborg 2Mo finished second in Group 7 and qualified for promotion play-offs, but was not promoted. | Lofoten |
| 1999 | HamKam | Asker | Sandefjord | Vidar | Fyllingen | Aalesund | Strindheim | Tromsdalen |
| 2000 | Skjetten | FF Lillehammer | Ørn-Horten | Mandalskameratene | Hødd | Aalesund | Stålkameratene | Lofoten |
| :: |
2001–2016
All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon. ::data[format=table]
2017–
Teams in bold were promoted to 1. divisjon.
Teams in italics were relegated to 2. divisjon. ::data[format=table]
| Season | Group 1 | Group 2 | Play-off teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Ham-Kam | Nest-Sotra | Fredrikstad (1. div), Raufoss (2. div, gr. 1), Notodden (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2018 | Raufoss | Skeid | Åsane (1. div), Fredrikstad (2. div, gr. 1), KFUM Oslo (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2019 | Stjørdals-Blink | Grorud | Notodden (1. div), Kvik Halden (2. div, gr. 1), Åsane (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2020 | Fredrikstad | Bryne | Stjørdals-Blink (1. div), Skeid (2. div, gr. 1), Asker (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2021 | Kongsvinger | Skeid | Stjørdals-Blink (1. div), Hødd (2. div, gr. 1), Arendal (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2022 | Moss | Hødd | Skeid (1. div), Arendal (2. div, gr. 1), Ull/Kisa (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2023 | Egersund | Levanger | Hødd (1. div), Lyn (2. div, gr. 1), Tromsdalen (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2024 | Hødd | Skeid | Mjøndalen (1. div), Jerv (2. div, gr. 1), Tromsdalen (2. div, gr. 2) |
| 2025 | Sandnes Ulf | Strømmen | Moss (1. div), Brattvåg (2. div, gr. 1), Grorud (2. div, gr. 2) |
| :: |
Reserve teams
Main article: Norwegian reserve football teams
Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 2. divisjon. Reserve teams of clubs from the 1. divisjon can not play in the 2. divisjon, so if a team is relegated from the 1. divisjon, the club's reserve team will be relegated to the 3. divisjon regardless of their final position in the league.
Sponsorship
From 2016 until 2025 the 2. divisjon had its title sponsorship rights sold to PostNord.
::data[format=table]
| Period | Sponsor | Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1963–1990 | No sponsor | 3. divisjon |
| 1991–2008 | 2. divisjon | |
| 2009–2011 | Fair Play ligaen | |
| 2012–2015 | Norsk Tipping | Oddsen-ligaen |
| 2016–2025 | PostNord | PostNord-ligaen |
| 2026– | No sponsor | 2. divisjon |
| :: |
Records and statistics
Team records
::data[format=table title="4 groups"]
| Record | Team | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most points | 70 (Kongsvinger) | 2003 |
| Fewest points | 3 (Stord and Skjervøy) | 2001 and 2003 |
| Most goals in one season | 105 (Tromsdalen) | 2011 |
| Fewest goals in one season | 18 (Langevåg) | 2003 |
| Most goals conceded in one season | 130 (Skjervøy) | 2003 |
| Fewest goals conceded in one season | 13 (Elverum) | 2016 |
| Most goals in one game | 15–0 (Strindheim – Salangen) | |
| 15–0 (Sparta Sarpsborg – Fram Larvik) | 2004 | |
| 2005 | ||
| Biggest win | 15–0 (Strindheim – Salangen) | |
| 15–0 (Sparta Sarpsborg – Fram Larvik) | 2004 | |
| 2005 | ||
| :: |
| valign="top" |
2017–
::data[format=table title="2 groups"]
| Record | Team | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Most points | 65 (HamKam) | 2017 |
| Fewest points | 13 (Byåsen) | 2017 |
| Most goals in one season | 66 (Åsane) | 2019 |
| Fewest goals in one season | 21 (Brumunddal) | 2017 |
| Most goals conceded in one season | 69 (Odd 2 and Stabæk 2) | 2017 and 2018 |
| Fewest goals conceded in one season | 18 (HamKam) | 2017 |
| Most goals in one game | 5–5 (Bærum – Oppsal) | |
| 2019 | ||
| Biggest win | 8–0 (Raufoss – Follo) | 2017 |
| :: |
|}
Average attendances
::data[format=table]
| Season | Average |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 258 |
| 2015 | 285 |
| 2016 | 262 |
| 2017 | 350 |
| 2018 | 493 |
| 2019 | 474 |
| :: |
Top ten most attended games
::data[format=table]
| No. | Season | Game | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 | Fredrikstad–Moss | 10 413 |
| 2 | 2019 | Fredrikstad–Byåsen | 7 912 |
| 3 | 2002 | Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden | 7 013 |
| 4 | 2018 | Fredrikstad–Asker | 5 691 |
| 5 | 2002 | Fredrikstad–Eidsvold Turn | 5 370 |
| 6 | 2003 | Kongsvinger–Ullensaker/Kisa | 5 024 |
| 7 | 2010 | Hamarkameratene–Brumunddal | 4 565 |
| 8 | 2019 | Fredrikstad–Kvik Halden | 4 462 |
| 9 | 2018 | Fredrikstad–Raufoss | 4 291 |
| 10 | 2019 | Fredrikstad–Stjørdals-Blink | 4 245 |
| :: |
References
References
- Aarre, Eivind. (5 September 2007). "Foreslår 2.-lagene i egen liga". Stavanger Aftenblad.
- "Fair Play Ligaen 2009". [[Mo IL]].
- (7 February 2012). "2. divisjon skifter navn". [[Nettavisen]].
- (27 February 2025). "PostNord forlenger ikke samarbeidet med Norges Fotballforbund". PostNord.
- (6 December 2024). "Her er avdelingene i PostNord- og Norsk Tipping-ligaen 2025". Norwegian Football Federation.
- [http://www.fotball.no/nff/Regler_og_retningslinjer/Reglementene-listeform/Kampreglement/Lag-og-Spillere-Spilletider-og--berettigelse/Flere-lag-i-samme-aldersklasse-/ Norwegian Football Association website] {{in lang. no
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::