Norway vs France Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
Boston hosts the conclusion of Group I for Norway and France with the two European nations both looking strong as they challenge for top spot heading into the knockout stages.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – ITV / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – ITVX / USA – FOX One
Norway preview: Entertaining Norwegians
Norway come into this one on the back of an entertaining 3-2 victory against Senegal in New York/New Jersey in their most recent outing. Erling Haaland notched a second brace of the tournament as the Norwegians booked their spot in the round of 32, playing at a first FIFA World Cup in 28 years.
The reason that they have qualified for the tournament is because of the impressive form and cohesion they found with their star-studded so-called 'golden generation' under Stale Solbakken. That 3-2 win against Senegal was the 13th time they have scored three or more goals in their last 20 matches.
France preview: Deadly up front
France have also already booked their spot in the round of 32 at FIFA World Cup 2026 with Les Bleus hammering Iraq by three goals to nil in Philadelphia, with the game delayed by two hours at half-time due for weather-related reasons. France's own star striker, Kylian Mbappe, also got his second brace of the tournament in that game.
The French are in what is Didier Deschamps' last tournament as manager with the FIFA World Cup 1998 and FIFA World Cup 2018 winner (as player and then coach) leaving at the end of this tournament, which is his seventh in charge. He will not be in the dugout for this one as he is back in France, mourning the passing of his mother.
Norway team news: Ryerson & Heggem doubtful
Norway are expected to be without Borussia Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson after he was forced off through injury against Senegal early on, replaced by Marcus Pedersen, who then opened the scoring for the Norwegians. Torbjorn Heggem is also a doubt and could be replaced by Leo Ostigard.
Aside from that, it would be a bit of a surprise for Solbakken to make any other changes as Norway seek to remain strong to pip the French to top spot.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Ostigard, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes, Nusa; Sorloth, Haaland
Unavailable:
Questionable: Heggem (Fitness), Ryerson (Injured)
France team news: A few changes
There are expected to be quite a few changes for the French here after making three ahead of their clash with Iraq, with William Saliba set to be left out as he manages a back issue.
There is also an expectation that both Theo Hernandez and Aurelien Tchouameni come back into the side alongside Malo Gusto with the likes of Rayan Cherki and Desire Doue also pushing to feature.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Gusto, Upamecano, Lacroix, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Cherki; Mbappe
Unavailable:
Questionable: Saliba (Fitness)
Norway’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Marcus Pedersen ($4.0m) – Defender
Martin Odegaard ($7.7m) – Midfielder
Erling Haaland ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Erling Haaland
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Erling Haaland
Free kicks: Martin Odegaard
Corners: Martin Odegaard
France’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ousmane Dembele ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Michael Olise ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 3 captain pick: Kylian Mbappe
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Kylian Mbappe
Free kicks: Michael Olise
Corners: Michael Olise
Key stats
- The two European nations are yet to meet in a major tournament but have faced each other ten times in qualifying competitions – albeit not since the 1990 World Cup preliminaries – with France having won six of those matches to Norway’s two. The last four meetings have been friendlies, France winning the most recent, 4-0 in May 2014 at the Stade France, to improve their all-time record vs Norway to W7 D4 L4.
- France have won their last five World Cup matches against European teams.
- The only time France have won all three matches in an opening round group was in 1998.
- This is just the second time that France have scored three or more goals in three successive FIFA World Cup matches. They have never scored three or more in four consecutive games.
- Didier Deschamps has now recorded 16 wins as head coach in the FIFA World Cup, level with Helmut Schön for the most in tournament history. Deschamps has been at the helm for 21 matches, whereas Schön was in charge of 25.
- Kylian Mbappé has scored 16 goals in 16 appearances in the FIFA World Cup. He is now level with Miroslav Klose in the all-time goalscoring charts, and behind only Lionel Messi (18).
- Kylian Mbappé holds the record for the most FIFA World Cup matches with two or more goals, having now done so six times.
- Norway are winless in their five World Cup matches against European teams (D2 L3).
- Norway have won successive FIFA World Cup matches for the first time.
- Norway’s four wins at the FIFA World Cup have come against teams from different confederations: 1-0 against Mexico (Concacaf) in 1994, 2-1 against Brazil (CONMEBOL) in 1998, 4-1 against Iraq (AFC) in 2026 and most recently a 3-2 victory over Senegal (CAF). They are now aiming to increase the tally to five wins against five different confederations.
- Norway have lost only one of their last 18 international matches (W14 D3).
- Erling Haaland has scored in each of his last 12 competitive appearances for Norway, registering 24 goals in those fixtures.
- Erling Haaland has now scored 59 goals in 52 international matches for his country.
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Norway vs France prediction
Norway play some of the most entertaining football at this FIFA World Cup with an array of attacking stars that can be somewhat undermined by lapses of quality and concentration at the back. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last nine matches.
France are expected to be posed a few more questions than the limited Iraqis managed to the other day but the pace and technical quality of their own frontline should mean they also punish an often lax Norwegian defence.
A high-scoring clash seems all but inevitable for this final game in Group I as the two sides challenge for top spot.
Norway vs France betting tip: Over 2.5 goals
