Tromsø, who won the Norwegian Cup in 1986 and 1996, went into their third final as favourites; the team finished fourth in Tippeligaen while Hødd, who appeared in their first final, avoided relegation to the Second Division in the last match with better goal difference than Tromsdalen. The two teams had met each other on four previous occasions, when Tromsø were playing in the First Division in 2002 they won both matches against Hødd 3–0. Tromsø also won both matches when Hødd were playing in Tippeligaen in 1995.
