This article is about the men's division. For the women's division, see Norwegian Second Division (women)
Football league
The Norwegian Second Division, 4️⃣ also called 2. divisjon and often referred to as PostNord-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, is the third-highest level of the Norwegian 4️⃣ football league system.
There are 28 teams divided into two groups, and at the end of the season the winner of 4️⃣ each group earns promotion to the second-highest division, 1. divisjon. The teams finishing in second place in their respective group 4️⃣ will qualify for the promotion play-offs, where they will face each other. The winner will play against the 14th placed 4️⃣ team in 1. divisjon for promotion. The bottom three teams in each group are relegated to 3. divisjon.
2. divisjon is 4️⃣ the highest league a reserve team can participate in, and only reserve teams from the Eliteserien clubs (first tier) are 4️⃣ allowed to enter. The participation of reserve teams stirs debate from time to time.[1]
History [ edit ]
Between 1963 and 1990, 4️⃣ 2. divisjon was the second highest level of the Norwegian football league system, therefore the name of the third highest 4️⃣ level was 3. divisjon. When the highest level was rebranded in 1991, this level changed its name to 2. divisjon. 4️⃣ From 2009 to 2011, the official name of the league was Fair Play ligaen, and from 2012 to 2024 the 4️⃣ name was Oddsen-ligaen (after the main sponsor Norsk Tipping's betting-game called Oddsen).[2][3] The league is currently branded as PostNord-ligaen, sponsored 4️⃣ by PostNord.
Current members [ edit ]
The following 28 clubs are competing in the 2024 Norwegian Second Division.[4][5][6]
Winners [ edit ]
All 4️⃣ group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.
Each group winner played qualification play-offs to 4️⃣ decide which teams promote to 1. divisjon. Teams in bold promoted to 1. divisjon through qualification play-offs.
^ Byåsen and Harstad 4️⃣ from 1. divisjon played qualification games against group winners from 2. divisjon ^ Verdal finished second in Group 5 and 4️⃣ qualified for promotion play-offs, but was not promoted. ^ Mo finished second in Group 7 and qualified for promotion play-offs, 4️⃣ but was not promoted.
All group winners, excluding second teams of top division teams, were promoted to 1. divisjon.
^ Haugesund finished 4️⃣ second in Group 3 and was promoted
Teams in bold were promoted to 1. divisjon.
Teams in italics were relegated to 2. 4️⃣ divisjon.
Reserve teams [ edit ]
Reserve teams of clubs from the two top divisions can participate in the 2. divisjon. Reserve 4️⃣ teams of clubs from the 1. divisjon can not play in the 2. divisjon, so if a team is relegated 4️⃣ from the 1. divisjon, the club's reserve team will be relegated to the 3. divisjon regardless of their final position 4️⃣ in the league.[7]
From 2024, 2. divisjon has its title sponsorship rights sold to PostNord.
Period Sponsor Name 1963–1990 No sponsor 3. 4️⃣ divisjon 1991–2008 2. divisjon 2009–2011 Fair Play ligaen 2012–2024 Norsk Tipping Oddsen-ligaen 2024– PostNord PostNord-ligaen
Records and statistics [ edit ]
Team 4️⃣ records [ edit ]
Average attendances [ edit ]
Season Average 2014 258 2024 285 2024 262 2024 350 2024 493 2024 4️⃣ 474
Top ten most attended games [ edit ]
