NM Cup

About NM Cup

History, Format, Organization, Media Coverage

The Norwegian Football Cup, or simply known as NM Cup, is a Norwegian knockout cup competition, which is sanctioned by the Football Association of Norway. It is the oldest soccer tournament in the country following its creation in 1902. Unlike many other cup competitions in the world, the team that ends up winning the NM Cup title is considered by most as Norwegian champions. Additional to the King’s Cup, the winner earns a spot in the early rounds of the UEFA Europa League.

The preliminary stage of the competition sees regional and amateur teams trying to reach the proper tournament, where 128 clubs begin the quest for the title. All rounds are played as one-match playoffs, with extra time and penalties used to determine the winner if the game is level after 90 minutes. The title match has been played at Ullevaal Stadion since 1948.

The NM Cup has seen some of the finest Norwegian teams taking the title home. Teams such as Odd, Rosenborg, and Fredrikstad have dominated the competition for different periods, cementing their spot as Norwegian soccer greats. In fact, Odd won the competition four times in a row between 1903 and 1906, a record that stands up until these days.