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Norwegian First Division
Norwegian First Division
Country Norway
Confederation UEFA
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)
1951–1962 (as Landsdelsserien)
1948–1951 (as 1. divisjon)
Number of teams 16
Promotion to Eliteserien
Relegation to Norwegian Second Division
Domestic cup(s) Norwegian Cup
Current champions HamKam (7th title) (2021)
Most successful club HamKam (7 titles)
TV Discovery Networks Norway
Website Official website
Football current event 2022

The Norwegian First Division, also called 1. divisjon and OBOS-ligaen (named sponsor is property developer 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. The tier has been restructured many times and consists of 16 teams at present.

History[]

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[]

Previous[]

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 seson. 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.

Current[]

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.

Clubs[]

Current members[]

The following 16 clubs are competing in the 2022 Norwegian First Division:

Club Position in 2021 Location Stadium Capacity
Brann 14th (ES) Bergen Brann Stadion 16,750
Bryne 10th Bryne Bryne Stadion 4,000
Fredrikstad 4th Fredrikstad Fredrikstad Stadion 12,500
Grorud 13th Oslo Grorud Arctic Match 1,700
KFUM 5th Oslo KFUM Arena 2,000
Kongsvinger 1st (2D) Kongsvinger Gjemselund Stadion 5,824
Mjøndalen 16th (ES) Mjøndalen Consto Arena 4,200
Ranheim 12th Trondheim EXTRA Arena 3,000
Raufoss 11th Raufoss Nammo Stadion 1,800
Sandnes Ulf 8th Sandnes Øster Hus Arena 6,043
Skeid 1st (2D) Oslo Nordre Åsen 2,500
Sogndal 6th Sogndal Fosshaugane Campus 5,622
Stabæk 15th (ES) Bærum Nadderud Stadion 4,938
Start 9th Kristiansand Sør Arena 14,448
Stjørdals Blink 14th Stjørdalshalsen M.U.S Stadion 2,000
Åsane 7th Bergen Åsane Arena 3,300

External links[]

Template:Norwegian First Division seasons Template:Norwegian First Division stadiums

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Football in Norway
League competitions The FAN Cup competitions
Eliteserien Norway Norwegian Football Cup
First Division (U-21, U-20, U-19 U-17) Mesterfinalen
Second Division Clubs
Third Division Stadiums
Fourth Division Leagues
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