Since 1972, the Norway Cup has been a pioneer for women's football in Norway. With a strong commitment to gender equality, the tournament continues to promote young football talents. Event manager Marthe Bøhler is passionate about girls' football.
The Norway Cup, organized by Bækkelagets Sportsklub, has been an important platform for young football talents from all over the world since its inception in 1972. With 420 teams and 8,400 participants in its first year, the tournament has grown to become a global phenomenon. Participants, players and referees from 127 nations have been part of this adventure. The Norway Cup is not only known for its scope and international participation, but also as a pioneer for women's football in Norway.
The cradle of women's football
From the very beginning, the Norway Cup prioritized girls' teams. In 1972, the same year the tournament started, eight girls' teams participated, long before the Norwegian Football Association officially recognized women's football in 1976. This early support for girls' and women's football has been crucial for the development of the sport in Norway.
Gender equality and recruitment
Marthe, event manager for Norway Cup, highlights the tournament's focus on gender equality.
"We want to help strengthen Norwegian football for both genders, with a particular focus on recruitment where dropout is highest in the youth phase. We are satisfied with the good proportion of girls, which is between 34 and 36 percent of the total participation in the tournament, but would very much like to increase the proportion of girls as well," says Marthe.
Norway Cup has always worked for gender equality in Norwegian club activities and football, and it is this focus that has contributed to making the tournament a leading arena for both boys and girls.
Thon Girls Camp for girls between 13-16 years old
To take the girls one step further, Norway Cup, in collaboration with Thon Hotels and the Norwegian Football Association, has invited football-loving girls between the ages of 13 and 16 to Thon Girls Camp. This is two days of action-packed and inspiring training at the highest level.
Football legend Hege Riise, along with top coaches and players from age-specific national teams and the Toppserien, will lead the training sessions. The girls' camp is now fully booked. We look forward to seeing the girls having fun with the pros on the pitch!
UEFA Playmakers for girls aged 5-8
The tournament will also highlight the youngest football talents. In collaboration with the Norwegian Football Association, we invite girls between the ages of 5-8 to an exciting and fun training session through the UEFA Playmakers program.
This initiative gives the youngest football enthusiasts a unique opportunity to participate in an inspiring and educational football experience. We hope many younger siblings of participants in Norway Cup 2024 will join in the fun! The training session will take place on Wednesday 31 July from 09:30 to 10:30 at Hovedbanen in Ekeberg, and participation is completely free.
There are limited places, so be quick. A maximum of 25 girls will be given the opportunity to participate, so register as soon as possible. The deadline for registration is July 1st, and confirmation of your place will be sent out about a week later.
Inspirational lecture with new Toppfotball manager Siri Nordby
Join us for a gathering where equality and passion for football are at the center. Our new Toppfotball Manager Siri Nordby invites you to a lecture filled with inspiration and football joy! Siri Nordby has a long career as a football player behind her, and she is looking forward to sharing her experiences and helping to lift girls up and forward in football.
Date: Tuesday, July 30
Location: Norway Cup, registration details coming soon
