Norway and France battle for top spot in World Cup Group I

By Sanjay Menon — 26 June 2026 — 3 min read

Norway and France are set to compete for the top position in World Cup 2026 Group I. Both teams have already secured their places in the Round of 32, with the match taking place at Boston Stadium in the United States. Kick-off is scheduled for 3pm EDT (19:00 GMT).

For this crucial encounter, Norway coach Ståle Solbakken has opted to rest several key players, including star striker Erling Haaland. Haaland is one of ten regular starters not in the lineup, with Benfica midfielder Fredrik Aursnes being the only regular to retain his spot, redeployed at right-back. This decision suggests Norway may be prioritising player conservation given their qualification for the knockout stages.

France, managed by Didier Deschamps who is absent due to a family funeral, has made four changes to the squad that secured a win against Iraq. Désiré Doué, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Théo Hernandez, and Maxence Lacroix are starting, while Bradley Barcola, Adrien Rabiot, Lucas Digne, and William Saliba move to the bench. These changes indicate France‘s focus on securing the top spot in the group.

Group I implications and other fixtures

While both teams are through, finishing first in Group I offers potential advantages in the knockout phase. France needs only a draw to finish at the top, thanks to their superior goal difference. Securing first place could allow the 2018 champions to remain in the Northeastern United States until the quarter-finals, avoiding extensive travel.

The other Group I match, between Senegal and Iraq, also carries significance for other teams. Should Senegal fail to win, or Iraq fail to win by three goals, Scotland could receive one of the four lifelines required to advance to the knockouts. This scenario, though slim, keeps their hopes alive.

The World Cup 2026 schedule for Friday also includes several other key matches:

• Senegal vs Iraq at Toronto Stadium, Canada at 3pm EDT (19:00 GMT)
• Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia at Houston Stadium, US at 7pm CDT (00:00 GMT on Saturday)
• Uruguay vs Spain at Estadio Guadalajara, Mexico at 6pm CST (00:00 GMT on Saturday)
• Egypt vs Iran at Seattle Stadium, US at 8pm PDT (03:00 GMT on Saturday)
• New Zealand vs Belgium at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada at 8pm PDT (03:00 GMT on Saturday)

Team preparations and historical context

Norway will wear their first-choice red shirts for the match, while France will be in their second-choice white strip. The pennant to be exchanged by France captain Kylian Mbappé features the French tricolore.

This match marks the 16th meeting between Norway and France. Their last encounter was a 4-0 friendly victory for France in 2014. Historically, Norway has won only two competitive matches against France, with their last victory dating back to a European Championship qualifier in 1987. Norway is still seeking their first World Cup win against European opposition, having drawn two and lost three of their previous five such matches.

Conversely, France has a strong record in World Cup matches against European teams, having won their last five. The tournament favourites, France, are seen as having a 59.4 percent chance of victory, with a draw rated at 20.6 percent. Norway‘s chance of securing the three points is estimated at 20 percent.

The final group stage matches on Friday will determine the remaining places in the Round of 32, with 13 spots still available across Groups G, H, and I.

The World Cup continues to deliver memorable moments, including Turkiye‘s 3-2 victory over the United States with a 98th-minute winner in an otherwise inconsequential Group D finale. Additionally, six African teams are vying for knockout places, with Morocco, South Africa, and Ivory Coast already through. A touching moment of sportsmanship was observed when Colombian fans silenced themselves to allow a lone DR Congo supporter to sing his country’s anthem before their Group K clash.

The tournament has also seen some unusual occurrences, such as FIFA president Gianni Infantino appearing at two different World Cup matches simultaneously, leaving fans puzzled.

The final group stage matches for Groups J, K, and L are scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

Source: theguardian.com