This article treats the contemporary gender situation in Norwegian football (soccer), with reference to three questions: (i) why is there still a significant gender gap; (ii) why has female football grown rapidly the last decades; and (iii) why is the Norwegian situation relatively egalitarian after all, when compared to for example the UK? The two former are analysed by the application of the work of Dunning which shows that, first, football has historically been a male preserve, and secondly,

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... the civilizing process has led to a more regulated society which in turn has led to increased female participation in sports. The latter question is analyzed by adding research on leisure and welfare state to nuance the general picture of welfare state, to show that the process of civilizing has worked differently -and probably faster -in the Scandinavian countries, which has led to increased female participation also in football in Norway.