Wales have not scored in League A, and Norway bring Haaland to Cardiff with Odegaard a doubt
Craig Bellamy’s side are bottom of Group 4 after defeats in Lisbon and Copenhagen, and the World Cup quarter-finalists arrive on Thursday night.
Oct 1, 2026
Wales have played two Nations League games since promotion to League A and have not scored in either. Norway, the side that comes to Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night, beat Brazil at the World Cup in July.
Kick-off is 7:45pm in Cardiff, which is 12:15am IST on Friday.
Two games, no goals
Wales lost 1-0 to Portugal in Lisbon on 24 September, with Joao Felix scoring in the 22nd minute. Three days later they went down 2-0 to Denmark in Copenhagen, where Ben Davies turned a free-kick into his own net and Gustav Isaksen added a second, both after half-time. That leaves them bottom of Group 4 on zero points, with three goals conceded and none scored.
The wider run is worse. Wales have lost three in a row and are six games without a win, their last victory coming against North Macedonia in a World Cup qualifier in November 2025.
Craig Bellamy did not argue with the criticism. “You don’t win and you lose a few games in a row, you should be asked questions,” he said on Wednesday. “No, I don’t see it [as] unfair.”
He has a long injury list to work around. Harry Wilson, Joe Rodon, Dylan Lawlor and goalkeeper Karl Darlow are all out, as are Nathan Broadhead, Rubin Colwill and Isaak Davies. David Brooks missed the Denmark game too.
The Haaland problem
Norway won their opener 3-2 against Denmark in Oslo, with Oscar Bobb scoring once and Erling Haaland twice. They then lost 2-1 at home to Portugal on Sunday, Haaland scoring Norway’s only goal. He has 65 goals in 57 games for his country.
“The guy’s a machine,” Bellamy said. “Have you seen his record at international level?”
Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals in July. Haaland scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil in the last 16, and it took England extra time in Miami to beat them 2-1.
Odegaard a doubt for Norway
Norway have problems of their own. Martin Odegaard hurt his ankle late in the Portugal game after a challenge from Bernardo Silva, and Stale Solbakken would not commit either way. “I wish I could say yes, but I can’t. I can’t say no either,” the Norway coach said. Odegaard was back in training in Cardiff on Wednesday. Alexander Sorloth is out injured.
Norway sit second on three points, level with Denmark and three behind Portugal, who play in Copenhagen on the same night. Norway go to Porto on Sunday, and Wales host Denmark in Cardiff the same day, so whoever loses here faces a hard few days.
Norway should win this. Wales will have a home crowd, but they have not scored in two games and Norway have Haaland.