France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway define Group I clashes in the 2026 World Cup

The França, Senegal, Iraque and Noruega teams prepare to kick off the 2026 Copa Mundo, focused on the challenges of the Grupo I. most notable scorers on the current scene.

Each country’s preparation involves studying its opponents and optimizing its strategies to advance in the competition. With different histories and recent trajectories marked by sometimes undefeated rankings, each team arrives at the tournament with clear ambitions and key players ready for duels.

França: Bicampeã seeks hegemony

França, holder of two world titles (1998 and 2016), begins its journey in Grupo I of Copa of Mundo of 2026 with the aim of winning another trophy. Sob under coach Didier Deschamps, the team demonstrated its strength during the UEFA qualifiers. The team advanced undefeated through the Grupo F, guaranteeing their eighth consecutive participation in the Mundial. The place was sealed with a convincing 4-0 victory over second-placed Ucrânia on 13 November.

The record of the French team in Copas from Mundo is remarkable, with 17 classifications. In 73 games played, França recorded 39 wins, 14 draws and 20 defeats, scoring 136 goals and conceding 85. Jogadores like Kylian Mbappé are central figures, with their decisive goals being vital to the team’s performance in previous FIFA competitions. Expectations are high for the performance of Deschamps’s players.

Senegal: Leões from Teranga and undefeated campaign

Senegal, representative of Confederação Africana of Futebol (CAF), competes in his fourth Copa of Mundo in 2026, seeking to surpass his best record, the quarter-finals of 2002. Liderada by coach Pape Thiaw, the team qualified for the Mundial undefeated. Senegal secured first place in Grupo B of the African preliminaries. The place was confirmed with a 4-0 victory over Mauritânia in their last match, on October 14th.

The Senegalese team demonstrated resilience and offensive power throughout their campaign. The overall history of Senegal in Copas of Mundo records 12 games, with 5 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. The team scored 16 goals and conceded 17. Midfielder Sadio Mané is one of the main references and source of inspiration for the team. The striker plays a fundamental role in the tactical scheme, being crucial to Senegal’s aspirations in Grupo I. The country has the feat of having won at least one match in each of its previous appearances in Copa’s Mundo.

Iraque: Retorno history after 40 years

Iraque, affiliated with Confederação Asiática of Futebol (AFC), marks their return to Copa of Mundo after 40 years, since their only previous participation in 1986. The journey to qualification has been challenging and exciting for the team. Após missed out on direct qualification by just one point in the third stage of the AFC qualifiers, Iraque fell short on goal difference in the fourth stage after a 0-0 draw with Arábia Saudita and a 1-0 win over Indonésia.

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The Iraqi team finally secured their place with a 2-1 victory over Bolívia in the FIFA Torneio Repescagem final, played at Monterrey. Goals from Ali Al-Hamadi and Aymen Hussein sealed the nation’s historic return to the world stage. The only Iraque player to score a goal against Copas’s Mundo thus far was Ahmed Radhi, who found the net in a 2-1 defeat to Bélgica in 1986. Coach Graham Arnold now leads the team in its second Mundial appearance.

Noruega: Liderança scorer of Erling Haaland

The Noruega team, a member of UEFA, qualified for its third Copa from Mundo, with previous participations in 1938 and 1998. Sob led by coach Stale Solbakken, the team performed impeccably in the European qualifiers, being one of only four teams to advance with perfect success. The Norwegians recorded eight wins in eight games in Grupo I of the qualifiers.

Noruega stood out as Europa’s top scorer with 37 goals scored in the knockout stage. The team recorded the biggest defeat of the qualifiers by defeating Moldávia 11-1. Finalizaram reached the group stage in style with a 4-1 triumph over Itália at San Siro. Erling Haaland was the top scorer in the European qualifiers with 16 goals, consolidating himself as the main name in the squad. Noruega’s overall record in Copas from Mundo includes 8 games, 2 wins, 3 draws and 3 losses, with 7 goals scored and 8 conceded. Noruega’s only previous wins over Copas over Mundo were by a single goal difference.

Cenário from Grupo I and clashes in the final stage

Grupo I of Copa of Mundo of 2026 promises intense clashes and unpredictable results, with each team seeking to qualify for the knockout stages. França, with its experience and talent, is seen as the favorite, but Senegal, Iraque and Noruega have the quality to surprise and fight for one of the spots.

The Grupo I leaderboard, before the start of the games, shows all teams with 0 points, reflecting the beginning of a new phase of competition. The games promise to be decisive in defining positions and paths in the competition.

The possible clashes in the round of 32 are:

• Vencedores do Grupo I:Enfrentarão the third place of one of Grupos C, D, F, G or H in Nova York.
• Segundos placed from Grupo I:Jogarão against runners-up Grupo AND Dallas.
• Terceiro place (rank):Poderá will have six possible matchups against the winners of Grupos A, B, D, G, K or L.