With a Dembélé masterclass, France crushes Norway 4-1, secures the top spot in Group I of the 2026 World Cup, and sets up a potential clash between Haaland and the Brazilian national team in the Round of 16.
The French national team showed its strength this Friday (26) by delivering a resounding 4-1 victory over Norway. In a match played at the Gillette Stadium, the French squad dominated the proceedings, solidifying their isolated lead in their World Cup group and reaffirming their status as one of the main title contenders.
The star of the show was Ousmane Dembélé, who scored a decisive hat-trick that paved the way for the win in the first half. The result not only confirmed the French superiority on the field but also determined the knockout stage bracket, placing Erling Haaland‘s team on a path that could intersect with Brazil‘s, should both nations advance through the next rounds.
Dembélé Unstoppable and Maignan’s Assurance
France‘s dominance was evident from the opening whistle. With Kylian Mbappé having an inspired performance, the offense flowed fluidly, overwhelming the Norwegian defense. After an explosive start, the team controlled the tempo and, even when Norway attempted to respond, they encountered an impenetrable block.
“Goalkeeper Mike Maignan shone by saving a penalty taken by Jørgen Strand Larsen early in the second half, thwarting any attempt at a Norwegian comeback when the score was still close,” highlighted the tactical analysis of the match.
Path to the Knockout Stage
Now, France awaits the outcomes of other groups to learn its next opponent in the Round of 32. Norway, despite the loss, remains alive in the competition and will face a knockout match against Ivory Coast. This scenario opens a real possibility of a giants’ meeting: if the Norwegians advance, they will face the winner of the duel between Brazil and Japan in the Round of 16.
The French victory, coupled with Senegal‘s win over Iraq in the group’s other match, concludes the qualifying stage with the certainty that the level of competitiveness remains exceptionally high. Brazilian fans are now closely watching Haaland‘s potential path, which could be one of the major obstacles to their dream of a sixth title.