With a stellar performance from Ousmane Dembélé, the France national team dominated Norway and confirmed their first-place finish in Group I of the 2026 World Cup.
The France national team showed why they are one of the top favorites for the 2026 World Cup title. In a match defined by individual brilliance in their attack, the French side made short work of Norway, winning 4-1 this Friday (26). The result was crucial for the team to finish the group stage as the sole leaders of Group I.
Dembélé’s show on the pitch
The star of the match was forward Ousmane Dembélé. With a masterful performance in the first half alone, the player scored a hat-trick, securing a comfortable lead for the team captained by Kylian Mbappé.
“The 29-year-old scored the second goal with a perfect curling shot, just one minute before Norway narrowed the gap with a goal from Thelo Aasgaard.”
Despite the French pressure from the opening whistle—including a shot against the post by Mbappé just 25 seconds in—Norway entered the match with a conservative strategy. Already qualified for the next round, the Nordic team rested 10 of their 11 starters, leaving star player Erling Haaland on the bench for the entire duration of the match.
Road to the knockout stage
After the French dominance, capped off by a fourth goal from Désiré Doué in stoppage time, the team now turns its attention to the bracket. Their opponent in the Round of 16 will only be determined after the conclusion of the group stage this Saturday, though all signs point to a duel against Sweden.
While France celebrates their top spot and high morale, Norway is already planning for their next challenge. The Nordic squad is set to face the Ivory Coast in Dallas on June 30, looking to get back on the winning track.