Norway vs France Prediction. Norway and France — both through with perfect records — collide in a Group I summit match at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, on Friday, 26 June 2026 (19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT). Haaland netted his 58th and 59th international goals vs Senegal; Mbappé scored twice vs Iraq. The winner tops Group I. Our prediction: France to win. Full analysis, team news, line-ups and all markets on SportPesa.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Group I, Match Day 3 |
| Date & kick-off | Friday, 26 June 2026 at 19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston area), Massachusetts, USA |
| Group I standings | After Match Day 2: Norway 6pts, France 6pts, Senegal 0pts, Iraq 0pts (both eliminated) |
| Stakes | Winner tops Group I and earns the potentially more favourable Round of 32 draw. Both through regardless. |
| Simultaneous match | Senegal vs Iraq — neither can affect the top two. |
| Where to watch | DSTV/GOTV |
Haaland’s record run meets France’s title credentials
Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal on Match Day 2 was a thrilling performance that demonstrated their attacking depth and resilience. Erling Haaland scored twice, taking his international goal tally to 58 and 59 — a remarkable return and confirmation that he is performing on the world stage exactly as expected. Alexander Sørloth also scored, cementing the deadly striking partnership that has carried Norway through their opening two fixtures. Coach Ståle Solbakken will name a strong XI with an unchanged lineup expected.
Norway’s campaign to this point represents one of the tournament’s great stories — a nation returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence and winning both of their opening matches. A win here would confirm them as Group I winners and set up what could be an extraordinary knockout run.
France are the tournament’s pre-eminent contenders. Didier Deschamps’ side beat Senegal 3-1 on Match Day 1 and dismantled Iraq in their second match, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in each game. The 2018 world champions have the squad depth, tactical flexibility, and individual brilliance to win this tournament. Their XI for this match shows some variation — Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué feature alongside Mbappé, suggesting Deschamps is testing options ahead of the knockout stage. Upamecano comes in for Konaté in central defence.
This is the first ever meeting between Norway and France at a FIFA World Cup. The historical head-to-head record across all competitions tilts heavily towards France (W8 D4 L4 over 16 meetings), but on current form and the weight of individual attacking quality on both sides, this promises to be the group stage’s most competitive and entertaining finale.
Team news and expected line-ups
Norway: Unchanged XI expected. Haaland and Sørloth up front. Ødegaard pulls the strings. Nusa provides pace wide. Berg and Berge in midfield.
France: Mbappé leads. Dembélé and Doué in support (rotation from Barcola). Upamecano in for Konaté. Tchouéméni and Rabiot in midfield.
| Norway (4-3-3) | France (4-3-3) |
| Ørjan Nyland (GK) | Maignan (GK) |
| Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (RB) | Kounde (RB) |
| Andreas Hanche-Olsen (CB) | Upamecano (CB) |
| Leo Østigård (CB) | Saliba (CB) |
| Julian Ryerson (LB) | Hernandez (LB) |
| Patrick Berg (DM) | Tchouameni (DM) |
| Sander Berge (CM) | Rabiot (CM) |
| Antonio Nusa (RM) | Olise (RM) |
| Martin Ødegaard (AM) | Dembele (RW) |
| Erling Haaland (ST) | Doue (AM) |
| Alexander Sørloth (LW) | Mbappe (ST) |
Key stats
- Norway: 6pts from 2 matches. Beat Iraq 4-1 (MD1, Haaland brace), beat Senegal 3-2 (MD2, Haaland brace).
- Erling Haaland: international goals 58 & 59 scored vs Senegal. Tournament total: 4 goals from 2 games.
- Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid): also scored vs Senegal. Partners Haaland in attack.
- Martin Ødegaard: creative heartbeat of the Norway midfield.
- Norway form (last 5): W W L W W.
- Norway: returning to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. Two wins from two.
- France: 6pts from 2 matches. Beat Senegal 3-1 (MD1), beat Iraq (MD2 — Mbappé brace confirmed).
- Kylian Mbappé: scored in both matches. Tournament total: 4 goals from 2 games.
- France form (last 5): W W W D W.
- France: 2018 World Cup champions. Ranked 2nd in the world.
- H2H (all-time): France W8 D4 L4 across 16 meetings.
- H2H: first ever World Cup meeting between Norway and France.
- Group I standings (after MD2): Norway 6pts, France 6pts, Senegal 0pts, Iraq 0pts.
Head-to-head
France lead the all-time head-to-head record, having won 8 of 16 meetings compared to Norway’s 4 wins and 4 draws. The most notable recent encounter was a famous 2-1 Norway win in a 1994 World Cup qualifier. This Match Day 3 clash is the first time these nations have met at a FIFA World Cup tournament.
| All-time H2H | France W8 D4 L4 across 16 meetings |
| Norway’s famous win | 2-1 Norway vs France (1994 World Cup qualifier — historical significance) |
| First World Cup meeting | This match — Group I, Match Day 3, 26 June 2026 |
Current form
| Team | Last 5 (inc. WC) |
| Norway | W W L W W |
| France | W W W D W |
Our prediction
France are the marginal favourites. Their squad depth, the reliability of Mbappé in front of goal, and their superior head-to-head record are all factors. The variation in their XI — Dembélé and Doué rather than Barcola — may actually represent an improvement in attacking width and direct running. Deschamps is not resting players for this; he is testing his deepest attacking options against the best available opposition before the knockout stage.
Norway are a genuine threat. Haaland’s four tournament goals from two matches, Ødegaard’s creative output, and the pace of Nusa on the break give them the tools to score against any defence. The Norway vs France fixture is not the mismatch it might appear on paper. But France’s defensive organisation — Saliba, Upamecano, and Maignan — is a considerably stiffer challenge than Senegal or Iraq.
France’s individual depth, superior head-to-head record, and the motivation of topping the group ahead of the knockout stage give them a narrow but meaningful advantage.
Our prediction: France to win.
Odds and markets
Odds correct at 2200 hrs UTC on 26/06/2026 and subject to change.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the Norway vs France event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Norway vs France kick off?
Kick-off is at 19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT on Friday, 26 June 2026, at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston area), Massachusetts, USA.
How many goals has Erling Haaland scored at World Cup 2026?
Erling Haaland has scored four goals in two World Cup matches — a brace against Iraq on Match Day 1 and a brace against Senegal on Match Day 2. The goals vs Senegal were his 58th and 59th international goals for Norway.
Have Norway and France played at the World Cup before?
No. This is the first ever World Cup meeting between Norway and France. They have met 16 times across all competitions with France winning eight, Norway four and four draws.
Do either side need to win to qualify from Group I?
No. Both Norway and France have already qualified for the Round of 32 with six points each. This match is purely for Group I top spot, which shapes the knockout-round draw.
What group are Norway and France in at World Cup 2026?
Both are in Group I alongside Senegal and Iraq. After Match Day 2, Norway and France are level on six points, with Senegal and Iraq both eliminated on zero.
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