Norway vs France

Match Preview

The highly anticipated FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I encounter between Norway and France is scheduled to take place on Friday, June 26, 2026. The match will be held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with a kick-off time of 3:00 PM EDT (12:00 PM UTC).

Group I Overview

Norway and France are drawn into Group I of the FIFA World Cup 2026, alongside Senegal and Iraq. As the group stage matches have not yet commenced, there are no current standings to report.

Match Preview

This clash promises to be a captivating encounter between a rising Norwegian "golden generation" and the consistently formidable French squad. While France enters as a perennial favorite, Norway's impressive qualification campaign suggests they are a team to watch.

Team News

Norway

Norway qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as UEFA Group I winners, showcasing an "excellent" overall form with a 70% win rate in recent international friendlies. They were notably the best attacking side in UEFA qualifying, scoring a remarkable 37 goals in eight matches.

• Key Players: The undeniable star for Norway is striker Erling Haaland, who was the top scorer in European qualifiers with 16 goals. Captain and midfield maestro Martin Ødegaard is another pivotal figure, along with experienced strikers Alexander Sørloth and Jørgen Strand Larsen, and promising youngsters Oscar Bobb and Antonio Nusa.
• Recent Form: In their last five matches across various competitions, Norway has secured three wins, one draw, and one loss. They recently defeated Sweden 3-1, drew 0-0 with Switzerland, and lost 2-1 to the Netherlands in friendly matches. Their World Cup qualifying campaign saw them achieve an impressive 4-1 victory over Italy and a dominant 4-1 win against Estonia in November 2025.
• Injuries/Absences: As of early June 2026, there have been some injury concerns for Norway. Captain Martin Ødegaard missed at least three matches for his country due to ankle injuries sustained in September 2024. Midfielder Fredrik Aursnes was sidelined with a left thigh muscle injury in March 2026, with an expected return in mid-April. Defender Torbjørn Heggem has also dealt with muscle injuries since January. FotMob currently reports no unavailable players for Norway for this specific fixture, which might indicate some players have recovered. Earlier reports from March 2023 indicated that Erling Haaland missed Euro 2024 qualifiers due to a groin injury, but there are no current reports suggesting his absence for the World Cup.

France

France, currently ranked #1 in the FIFA World Rankings, enters the tournament as one of the favorites, having reached the last two World Cup finals, winning in 2018. Their recent form has been "excellent," winning 80% of their last 5 matches, scoring 13 goals and conceding 5.

• Key Players: Kylian Mbappé, the team captain and second all-time top goalscorer for France, is a crucial player. Other influential players include Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud (the national team's all-time leading goalscorer), Aurélien Tchouaméni, N'Golo Kanté, and Ousmane Dembélé.
• Recent Form: France has demonstrated strong form, winning against Colombia (3-1) and Brazil (2-1) in recent friendly internationals in March 2026. Their World Cup qualification campaign in late 2025 included a 4-0 victory over Ukraine, a 3-0 win against Azerbaijan, and a 2-2 draw with Iceland.
• Injuries/Absences: France has faced some recent injury concerns. Kylian Mbappé sustained a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg in late April 2026, with initial reports suggesting he might miss the remainder of his club season. However, he has been included in the World Cup squad. Defender William Saliba's participation in the World Cup is in doubt due to a previous injury that worsened in late May/early June 2026, and his condition is a concern for the French Football Federation. Striker Hugo Ekitike is confirmed out of the World Cup due to an Achilles injury.

Head-to-Head

In their limited head-to-head history since 2010, Norway and France have played two games, with each team securing one victory. Norway won 1 game (Total Goals 2), while France also won 1 game (Total Goals 5). Their most recent official World Cup encounter is this upcoming match on June 26, 2026.

Predictions

Given France's consistent top ranking, deep squad, and strong recent form, they will likely enter this match as favorites. However, Norway's impressive attacking prowess, led by Erling Haaland, and their strong qualification campaign mean they are capable of causing an upset. The potential absence or limited fitness of key French players like Saliba could also be a factor. While France's overall quality might give them an edge, Norway's determination and potent attack suggest they will make it a challenging contest. A narrow victory for France or a high-scoring draw seems plausible.