Norway donates World Cup qualifier revenue to Doctors Without Borders for Gaza

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The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has donated all revenue from its World Cup qualifying match against Israel to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières), directing the funds toward emergency medical relief for civilians affected by the conflict in Gaza.

The match, played on October 11, 2025, at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium, saw Norway secure a dominant 5-0 victory. But it was the gesture off the pitch that captured global attention.

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From surplus to substantial sum

The match generated a surplus of approximately 522,000 Norwegian kroner. However, the NFF chose to triple that amount, adding an extra 1 million kroner from its own disciplinary fine fund to bring the federation’s total contribution to 1.5 million kroner.

“We found out after the match that we wanted to contribute more than just the surplus itself,” NFF President Lise Klaveness explained. “The organisation does a fantastic job and helps directly where the need is greatest. We wanted to use the opportunity to contribute a little extra”.

A major Norwegian investment company—wishing to remain anonymous—was inspired by the initiative and added a further 3 million kroner (approximately $305,000).

The total raised for Doctors Without Borders now stands at 4.5 million kroner.

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‘We cannot remain indifferent’

Klaveness justified the decision by pointing to the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza.

“Neither we nor other organisations can have an indifferent attitude toward the humanitarian suffering and the disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to over a long period of time,” she said.

“Israel is part of FIFA’s and UEFA’s competitions, and we must relate to that. But we want to give the surplus to a humanitarian organisation that saves lives in Gaza every day and contributes with active emergency aid on the ground”.

The NFF has long been engaged in international projects in Palestine, working on the ground for over a decade training female football coaches and creating football activities for children in schools and refugee camps.

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A costly match to host

The fixture came with significant additional costs. The NFF spent 1.7 million kroner on extra security and lost 1.5 million kroner in ticket revenue after reducing stadium capacity by approximately 2,500 seats to implement safety zones. An additional 128,000 kroner was paid in a FIFA fine, alongside 150,000 kroner in extraordinary transport and medical preparedness costs.

Total extraordinary costs and lost revenue amounted to 3.4 million kroner.

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‘It will save lives’

Lindis Hurum, Secretary-General of Doctors Without Borders Norway, expressed deep gratitude for the contribution.

“It means an enormous amount. It is a large and generous contribution and will make a difference for our patients—where our over 1,000 Palestinian colleagues are now doing everything they can to save lives,” she said.

Hurum described the situation in Gaza as “precarious and brutal,” adding that “the medical and humanitarian needs are overwhelming. Our efforts will not diminish going forward—quite the opposite. We simply need more money”.

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Criticism and context

The initiative was not without controversy. The Israel Football Association reacted to the NFF’s decision to link the donation specifically to the match against Israel. However, the NFF has maintained that its engagement is humanitarian, not political.

Klaveness has also been a vocal advocate for FIFA to investigate Israel’s participation in international competitions, arguing that “football must not be used in a way that undermines internationally recognised rights or established legal principles”. She has pointed to the precedent set by the suspensions of Russian teams following the invasion of Ukraine as exposing a “glaring double standard”.

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Beyond Gaza: Norway’s broader humanitarian commitments

The Gaza donation is part of a wider pattern of Norwegian humanitarian engagement. Norway has been Brazil’s primary partner in the Amazon Fund, pledging up to $1 billion over the years to combat deforestation and promote conservation. In November 2024, Norway announced a further $60 million contribution to the fund in recognition of Brazil’s success in reducing Amazon deforestation.

The NFF’s initiative has been praised as a powerful symbol of sport’s potential for solidarity. As one Norwegian commentator put it: “One football match cannot stop a war. One donation cannot solve a humanitarian catastrophe. But actions like this remind us that solidarity still has a place—also in sport”.