France seals leadership of Group I of the 2026 World Cup with Dembélé show and Norway spares Haaland for knockout stage
The France team confirmed its supremacy in Group I of the 2026 World Cup by beating Norway 4-1. Ousmane Dembélé was the highlight of the match, scoring a hat-trick in the first half and securing first place for Les Bleus. Norway, in turn, opted for a formation with several changes, including the absence of its stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, already aiming for the next stage of the tournament.
Historic goals and the mark of Ousmane Dembélé
The French right-winger demonstrated agility and precision, opening the scoring just seven minutes into the first half. With time and space offered by the Norwegian defense, Dembélé doubled the lead in the 20th minute. Although Norway responded with a goal 81 seconds later, the one-goal lead was short-lived. In the 32nd minute, the Paris Saint-Germain striker completed his three-goal streak with a well-struck left-foot shot, consolidating a memorable performance.
This feat places Dembélé in history as the author of the second fastest hat-trick in World Cups, surpassed only by Austrian Erich Probst, who scored three times in 24 minutes in the 1954 edition. He joins names like Just Fontaine (1958) and Kylian Mbappé (2022) as the only players to score three goals in a single match in the men’s competition. With the three goals, Dembélé also equals Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Haaland in the race for the Golden Shoe, currently led by Lionel Messi.
Norway spares starters and prepares for the round of 16
In a strategic decision, the Norwegian team made ten changes to its starting lineup, leaving top scorer Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard on the bench. This tactical move suggests prioritizing the health of key players for the knockout matches, indicating that the coaching staff was already counting on qualifying for the next phase, even with a possible defeat to France. Despite the score, Norway secured second place in the group.
The strategy, although risky, allowed key players to rest, minimizing the risk of injury and ensuring they were in top shape for future challenges. The Nordic team demonstrated that, even without its main names, it has squad depth, despite being overcome by the French force in the last game of the group stage.
Senegal thrashes and intensifies search for place as best third place
In the other match in Group I, the Senegal team won an impressive 5-0 victory over Iraq. The game was made easier by the expulsion of Iraqi defender Rebin Sulaka just 10 minutes into the first half, after a foul that prevented Sadio Mané’s clear scoring chance. Habib Diarra opened the scoring early, and in the second half, Ismaïla Sarr and Pape Gueye (twice) expanded, with Iliman Ndiaye completing the rout.
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With this important victory, Senegal reaches third place in Group I, adding three points and a positive goal difference. This score puts them in contention for one of the eight places allocated to the best third-placed teams who advance to the round of 32 stage. The team awaits the results of the matches between Croatia and Algeria, who also have three points and still have games to be played, to find out their fate in the competition, which ends next Saturday.
Final classification of Group I and next challenges
After the conclusion of the group stage, the Group I table was defined with France in isolated leadership, with nine points, and Norway in second place, with six. France, undefeated, showed its strength, while Norway, despite the defeat, secured its passage to the next stage.
Round of 16 clashes for those classified:
- Group I winner (France):They will face the 3rd place team from one of Groups C, D, F, G or H. The game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30th, at 5 pm (ET), at MetLife Stadium, in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
- Second place in Group I (Norway):They will face Ivory Coast, second placed in Group E. The match will take place on Tuesday, June 30, at 1 pm (Brasília time), at AT&T Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.
France’s strength and prospects for the world title
The French team, with its recent history of champion in 2018 and runner-up in 2022, reaffirms its status as a strong candidate for the world title. Didier Deschamps’ team demonstrates a robust squad and impressive offensive power, led by talents such as Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who stood out in this round with his historic hat-trick. The dominant performance in the group stage reinforces the high expectations surrounding Les Bleus.
For many analysts and fans, any result other than reaching the grand final would be a considerable disappointment for France, given the individual quality of its players and the coaching staff’s experience in major competitions. The team will look to maintain momentum and consistency as they progress to the knockout stages, where each game will be decisive in their journey towards a third world championship.
