World Cup 2026 – Group I guide: Favourites France, dark horses Norway and dangerous Senegal... is this our group of death? | OneFootball

If you enjoy World Cup nostalgia, look no further than Group I. Senegal’s victory against reigning champions France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul remains an iconic moment, and one of the tournament’s biggest upsets. A rematch 24 years on is one of the fixtures of the group stage.

It is the presence of Norway, though, that turns Group I into a true blockbuster and maybe, if a 48-team World Cup still has them, this tournament’s group of death. Norway will return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and in Erling Haaland have a superstar who can inspire a very promising generation to new heights.

France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, have reached the last two finals, with Kylian Mbappe and Osmanne Demeble leading a loaded attack. Senegal’s golden generation have technically won two out of the last three Africa Cup of Nations titles; while that remains disputed, the talent and pedigree of the Lions of Teranga is not.

Group I fixtures

(all times BST)

16 June, 8pm: France v Senegal, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

16 June, 11pm: Iraq v Norway, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

22 June, 10pm: France v Iraq, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

23 June, 1am: Norway v Senegal, MetLife Stadium, New Jersey

26 June, 8pm: Norway v France, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough

26 June, 11pm: Senegal v Iraq, BMO Field, Toronto

France

What’s French for firepower? Because oh la la there’s a lot of it in this Les Bleus squad. Before we get carried away, though, let’s remember that France managed just four goals at Euro 2024 and only one of them came from open play, in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to champions Spain. Kylian Mbappe was derailed by a broken nose, and the tactics of Didier Deschamps were considered to be overly cautious and restrictive.

This will be the last time Deschamps leads France at a tournament, after overseeing their 2018 World Cup victory and run to the final in Qatar, so how does he get the balance right this time? There has been a French evolution since Euro 2024, mainly due to the success of Paris Saint-Germain. The development of Osmanne Dembele into a Ballon d’Or winner brings another dimension. Then there’s Desire Doue, Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki… tricks, dribbling, style. Get it right and France could be irresistible.

Deschamps, though, will be without the retired Antoine Griezmann, a key figure for his selfless work at the last World Cup. N’Golo Kante, at 35, will be tasked with holding the midfield together along with Aurelien Tchouameni, with his Real Madrid team-mate Eduardo Camavinga a notable omission that may leave France a little light in the middle. If Deschamps does not get his formula right it could be a decision that comes back to haunt him.

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Didier Deschamps is seeking to win another World Cup with France (Reuters)

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes).

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamenaco (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan)

Star player: Kylian Mbappe. With 12 goals in just 14 appearances at the World Cup, and by the age of just 27, Mbappe will be motivated by his path towards further greatness as he returns to the tournament that has so far defined his career. While his last two seasons with Real Madrid have not been easy, even if his goalscoring record has remained outstanding, it feels as if the superstar captain has a lot to prove, to a lot of people, as he leads Les Bleus.

Breakout talent: Desire Doue. The winger was playing in the Under-19 Euros two years ago when France reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Now he is likely to form part of a star-studded attack after proving his talents on the Champions League stage with PSG. With mesmerising feet and an eye for goal, the 20-year-old is rightfully up there with Lamine Yamal as one of the most exciting youngsters to be appearing at their first World Cup this summer.

Fifa ranking: 1.

Odds to win the World Cup: 5/1, latest odds at The Independent via Oddsjam.

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(Getty)

Senegal

The chaos of Rabat is still unresolved but Senegal’s reputation on the pitch remains. A second Africa Cup of Nations title in four years should have crowned Senegal as one of the finest sides the continent has produced but the decision to overturn the result of the final and name Morocco champions ensures there is unfinished business for the Lions of Teranga.

An experienced, settled squad led by the veterans Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gana Gueye is complemented by the many fresh talents playing at the highest levels of the European game, such as Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye, Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Sunderland’s Habib Diarra. The Premier League connection is instructive: last year, Senegal became the first African team to beat England when they won 3-1 at the City Ground in Nottingham, and that famous result should give Pape Thiaw’s side plenty of confidence ahead of decisive clashes against European nations in France and Norway.

Thiaw was handed a five-game ban for leading his Senegal team off the pitch during the carnage of the Africa Cup of Nations final, although that punishment will not apply to World Cup games. Thiaw’s players kept their Afcon winner’s medals and they will enter the tournament with heads held high, believing they are African champions, and hoping for fewer obstacles to overcome.

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There is a new wave of talent ready to add to Senegal’s golden generation (AFP/Getty)

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli), Yehvann Diouf (Nice), Mory Diaw (Le Havre)

Defenders: Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), El-Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham United), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), ​Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Pathe ‌Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Bara Ndiaye (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr), ​Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace)

Star player: Sadio Mane. The talisman was praised for his leadership when he convinced Senegal to return to the pitch and end the walk-off protest during the Africa Cup of Nations final. Mane then indicated that he had retired from international football after lifting the trophy, but reversed his decision to play at the World Cup. The explosive speed of his Liverpool peak is no longer there, but the game intelligence remains.

Breakout talent: Mamadou Sarr. The 20-year-old centre-back replaced captain Kalidou Koulibaly when he was suspended for the Africa Cup of Nations final, but he was outstanding. Already at Chelsea, where he was recalled from his loan at Strasbourg, Sarr is the future of the Senegal defence.

Fifa ranking: 14.

Odds to win the World Cup: 150/1

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How far can Sadio Mane take Senegal at the World Cup? (Reuters)

Norway

Norway’s all-black away kit sent a hidden message ahead of the World Cup. According to manufacturers Nike, the all-black look is inspired by “Viking warriors, built to intimidate and channel Norway's fearless spirit”. That may be true, but a second interpretation is that Norway are dark horses for this World Cup.

This may be their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, but with a striker like Erling Haaland how could Norway not be put in that bracket? With 55 goals in 49 appearances for his country, Haaland averages over a goal a game for Norway, hitting 16 in qualifying alone as they defeated Italy home and away to top their group with eight wins from eight.

It’s not just Haaland, of course. Their captain Martin Odegaard should be fresh after an injury-disrupted season for Arsenal, which can help Norway avoid the fate so often suffered by Poland at recent major international tournaments where they were unable to offer anything other than a superstar striker in Robert Lewandowski. Theirs is a tough group but third place is likely to be good enough. And with Haaland’s goalscoring ability, Norway can be competitive in any game.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Orjan Haskjold Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (Hamburg)

Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus ⁠Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Moller Wolfe (Wolves), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), ⁠Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), Sondre Langas (Derby), Henrik Falchener (Viking)

Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica), Patrick ‌Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten ​Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers)

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City), ‌Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal ​Palace), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt).

Star player: Erling Haaland. Expectations will be high as the 25-year-old striker makes his World Cup debut, and first appearance at a major international tournament. But no one scores goals like he does, not just in terms of the sheer quantity, but in the style and powerful force of a brutish goalscoring machine. His record for Norway, average better than a goal a game, is frightening and he could terrify defences this summer.

Breakout talent: Antonio Nusa. The 21-year-winger is attracting interest from some of Europe’s clubs thanks to his electric dribbling and pace, which may compliment Haaland’s presence and Martin Odegaard’s passing. His goal return for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga is hardly outstanding, but he scored important goals for Norway in both games against Italy during World Cup qualifying.

Fifa ranking: 31.

Odds to win the World Cup: 33/1

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Erling Haaland averages a goal a game for Norway (Getty)

Iraq

Iraq sealed their place at the World Cup by beating Boliva in one of the two intercontinental play-offs, confirming their return to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years. The challenge now facing Australian head coach Graham Arnold is what the Socceroos managed to achieve at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Arnold guided Australia to second place in a group containing France, Tunisia and Denmark and then a narrow last-16 defeat to Argentina. Simply, they’ve got to punch above their weight.

Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib (Al Talaba), Jalal Hassan (Al Zawraa), Ahmed Basil (Al Shorta)

Defenders: Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin), Manaf Younis (Al Shorta), Ahmed Yahya (Al Shorta), Mustafa Saadoon (Al Shorta), Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor), Rebin Sulaka (Port), Akam Hashim (Al Zawraa), Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen), Zaid Ismail (Al Talaba), Frans Putros (Persib)

Midfielders: Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia), Kevin Yakob (Aarhus GF), Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht), Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg), Ibrahim Bayesh (Al Dhafra), Ahmed Qasem (Nashville), Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca), Marko Farji (Venezia)

Forwards: Ali Jassim (Al Najma), Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton), Ali Yousef (Al Talaba), Aymen Hussein (Al Karma), Mohanad Ali (Dibba)

Star player: Ali Al-Hamadi. The Ipswich forward, whose family fled the country when he was a baby, is the first Iraqi player to have played in the Premier League.

Breakout talent: Zidane Iqbal. The former Manchester United academy graduate now plays for Dutch side Utrecht.

Fifa ranking: 57.

Odds to win the World Cup: 2000/1

France to top the group, but lose a game. Norway to score at least a goal in every game and battle Senegal for second place.