Norway and France face each other this Friday (26), at 4pm (Brasília time), at Gillette Stadium, in Foxborough (Massachusetts), in the third and final round of Group I of the 2026 World Cup. Both teams have already secured 100% classification after two victories, but the direct confrontation is worth the first position in the group.
France arrives with a slight advantage on goal difference (five against Norway’s four) and can guarantee top spot with a draw. Norway, which returns to the World Cup after 28 years of absence, needs victory to take the lead and improve its path in the knockout stage.
Duel of golden generations
The match pits two of the most offensive teams in the competition face to face. On the Norwegian side, Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard lead an attack that has already scored seven goals in the first two games. On the French side, Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise form a dangerous trio, with the two-time world champion team having found the net six times so far.
Probable lineups Norway
(coach Ståle Solbakken): Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe; Berge, Aursnes, Ødegaard; Nusa, Sørloth, Haaland. The coach must maintain the starting lineup, but there is the possibility of rotating the squad thinking about the knockout phase.
France
(coach without Deschamps confirmed): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix/Saliba, Hernández; Tchouaméni, Koné/Rabiot; Olise, Dembélé/Doué, Mbappé. Les Bleus have the depth to save some players, but they must prioritize the result to avoid a more complicated second place.
What’s at stake in the knockout stage
The first place in Group I faces the second in Group E, while the second goes against the first in Group E. A victory for Norway could mean a theoretically more accessible path, depending on the other results. France, with greater experience in high-level tournaments, seeks to maintain dominance.
History and motivation
The two teams have faced each other a few times recently, with the French advantage in retrospect. For Norway, this is the moment to prove that its golden generation led by Haaland and Ødegaard can upset the big powers. France is aiming for its third title and wants to close the group stage undefeated.
Where to watch live
The game will be broadcast on TV Globo (open TV), SporTV (closed TV) and Cazé TV (YouTube). ge tracks all bids in real time.