The Norwegian Football Federation has confirmed that it donated the proceeds from its 2026 World Cup qualifier against Israel to a humanitarian organization working in Gaza. The match, played in Oslo on October 11, 2025, ended in a 5-0 victory for Norway. Even before kickoff, the federation announced that all profits from the match would be dedicated to humanitarian work. Doctors Without Borders was chosen to fund its emergency operations in the Gaza Strip and areas affected by the conflict.
A profit of €47.000, but a donation increased to €135.000
Once the accounts were settled, the net profit from the match amounted to approximately 522.000 Norwegian kroner, or nearly €47.000. However, the Norwegian Football Federation decided to go further. It added another million kroner from its own funds, bringing the total donation to 1,5 million Norwegian kroner, or approximately €135.000.
An initiative that has been further amplified.
The initiative also garnered another significant contribution. A major player in the Norwegian private sector, who wished to remain anonymous, decided to provide additional funding of three million kroner. In total, nearly 4,5 million Norwegian kroner, or just over €400.000, was ultimately raised to support Doctors Without Borders' humanitarian work in Gaza.
A particularly sensitive context
The match was subject to significant security measures due to the geopolitical context. The capacity of the Ullevaal stadium was reduced, resulting in lower ticket revenue and additional costs for the organizers. Despite these expenses, the Norwegian Football Federation maintained its commitment to donate the match proceeds and chose to significantly increase the donation amount. Its president, Lise Klaveness, explained that the federation did not wish to remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering in the region, while also reiterating that Norway continued to respect the FIFA and UEFA competitions in which Israel participates.
