Busy January for Norway

First Oman encounter
Norway will play the UAE in Dubai on 26 January in what will be the second meeting between the two nations. Norway won the first encounter 4-1 at home in April 1997. Two days later the team travel to Oman for a first encounter with their opponents.

Domestic players
A further match may be scheduled against either Kuwait or Iraq. If the Iraqi match goes ahead it will be played on 24 January according to a spokesman for the Norwegian Football Association (NFF). Norway will travel south with a squad mainly composed of players from their domestic league.

Russia friendly cancelled
Norway's friendly against Russia, scheduled for 30 April, has been cancelled as Russia will use that date to stage the rearranged UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifying match against Georgia which was cancelled earlier in the year. Instead Norway will play a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.