In the icy winds of northern Norway, the small port city of Bodø—home to just 54,000 residents—has erupted in celebration. FK Bodø/Glimt, the city's beloved football club founded in 1916, has pulled off a feat that few could have predicted even a month ago: defeating European giant Inter Milan and advancing to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) round of 16 for the very first time in its 110-year history.
On February 25, 2026, the stage was set at Milan's iconic San Siro Stadium. Bodø/Glimt arrived with a slender advantage, having stunned Inter Milan 3-1 in the first leg at home just six days earlier. Most pundits, including the statistical wizards at Opta, pegged Bodø/Glimt's chances at a mere 0.3% before the playoff began. Yet, the Norwegian underdogs were undeterred by the odds—or by the intimidating atmosphere in Italy.
From the opening whistle, Bodø/Glimt played with grit and purpose. Their breakthrough came in the 58th minute, as Jens Petter Hauge found the back of the net to silence the San Siro faithful. Just fourteen minutes later, Håkon Evjen doubled the lead, sending the traveling Norwegian supporters into raptures. Inter Milan, last season's UCL runner-up and three-time European champions, managed to pull one back through Alessandro Bastoni in the 76th minute, but it wasn't enough. The final whistle confirmed a 2-1 victory for Bodø/Glimt, and with a 5-2 aggregate, the Norwegians were through to the last 16.
"Bodø/Glimt is breaking the perception that only big-spending clubs can succeed in European football," one local sportswriter noted. The statistics are staggering: Transfermarkt values Bodø/Glimt's entire squad at just 57.13 million euros—about one-twelfth of Inter Milan's 666.8 million euro roster. Yet, what the Norwegians lack in financial muscle, they more than make up for in resilience, tactical discipline, and a home environment that has become infamous across Europe.
Bodø's stadium, perched on the edge of the Arctic Circle, is known as a 'graveyard for away teams.' Visiting clubs must contend not only with artificial turf and biting cold but also with a fiercely loyal fan base. Manchester City, one of the richest and most talented clubs in the world, learned this the hard way in the group stage, falling 3-1 to Bodø/Glimt in freezing conditions. Atlético Madrid, another European powerhouse, was also toppled—this time 2-1 on their own turf in Spain. These victories weren't flukes; they were the product of a team that refuses to be cowed by names or reputations.
The magnitude of Bodø/Glimt's achievement is underscored by history. Not since Lillestrøm in the 1987-88 season has a Norwegian club reached the UCL round of 16. For Bodø/Glimt, this is not just a first in club history—it's a breakthrough for Norwegian football as a whole. The club's starting lineup in the decisive second leg featured nine Norwegian players, reflecting a commitment to developing local talent in an era when many clubs rely heavily on expensive foreign imports.
It's not just at club level that Norwegian football is making waves. The national team recently qualified for the FIFA World Cup finals for the first time in 28 years, signaling a broader renaissance for the sport in this winter sports powerhouse. Norwegian stars like Erling Haaland, currently topping the scoring charts in the English Premier League with Manchester City, and Alexander Sørloth, who just netted a hat-trick for Atlético Madrid against Club Brugge to secure their own round of 16 berth, are raising the profile of Norwegian football worldwide.
The scale of Bodø/Glimt's task cannot be overstated. Inter Milan, ranked third in UEFA's club rankings and boasting a squad packed with international stars, was widely expected to cruise past their Norwegian opponents. In fact, Opta's supercomputer gave Inter a 71.7% chance of victory in the second leg. But as the final whistle blew in Milan, it was the visitors who were celebrating, their players applauding the traveling fans in scenes of pure jubilation.
How did Bodø/Glimt pull off such a string of upsets? The answer lies in their remarkable journey through the group stage. After a shaky start—winning just six points from their first eight matches—the club roared back to life when it mattered most. Their 3-1 demolition of Manchester City in the seventh round and the dramatic 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid in the final group match secured a place in the knockout playoffs. From there, they faced Inter Milan, last year's finalists, and swept them aside with back-to-back victories.
For Inter Milan, the defeat is a bitter pill to swallow. The Italian giants, with their storied European pedigree and deep pockets, were sent packing by a club whose market value is dwarfed by nearly every other round of 16 contender. Inter's exit is a stark reminder that in football, heart and teamwork can sometimes outweigh star power and financial might.
As for Bodø/Glimt, the adventure continues. Their next opponent will be determined in the round of 16 draw on February 27, 2026, with either Manchester City or Portugal's Sporting CP awaiting them. The prospect of a rematch with City, whom they already defeated in the group stage, is tantalizing. Can the Arctic Circle's 'small giant' keep their fairytale run alive?
Whatever happens next, Bodø/Glimt's story has already captured the imagination of football fans across Europe and beyond. From a city where the sun doesn't rise in winter, the club has shone a light that refuses to be dimmed. Their remarkable journey serves as a reminder that in football, as in life, the underdog always has a chance—no matter how small the odds.