2. Divisjon

The 2.divisjon,internationally known as Norwegian Second Division or PostNord-ligaen for sponsorship reasons, is the third most important league in Norway’s soccer league system. The competition was created in 1963 under the name 3.divisjon, when it operated as the second most important soccer league in the country. Nonetheless, after many adjustments, the league has been officially named 2.divisjon since 2016.

The competition is played by 28 teams, which are divided into two groups of 14. The season sees all teams from each group facing their rivals twice (once at home, once away). Once that happens, both group leaders earn their promotion to the OBOS-ligaen. Meanwhile, the clubs that finish second in each group enter a promotion playoff, where the winner after two legs faces the 14th team in OBOS-Ligaen for a spot in that competition.

On the other hand, the league sees six teams being relegated to the Third Division. Those teams are determined by their spot in each group, with the bottom three of each lot getting the drop to the lower tier.

Although this is a professional league through and through, reserve teams are allowed to play in this category. If a reserve team wins any of the groups and its corresponding promotion, that spot is handed to the runners-up of that lot.