Norway and France will meet at Gillette Stadium on Friday evening in a crucial final Group I fixture at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Vikings have been one of the surprise packages of the tournament, winning their opening two matches and securing qualification to the knockout stage. After a dominant 4-1 victory over Iraq, Norway followed it up with a thrilling 3-2 win against Senegal, showing their attacking quality and resilience.
Norway currently sit second behind France due to goal difference, but victory on Friday would see them claim top spot.
France, have continued to justify their status as one of the tournament favourites. Didier Deschamps’ side defeated Senegal 3-1 before producing a professional 3-0 win over Iraq, with Kylian Mbappe once again leading from the front.
Les Bleus only need to avoid defeat to finish first, but they will be determined to complete the group stage with a perfect record. France have dominated recent meetings with Norway, including a 4-0 victory in their last encounter in 2014.
With both teams already qualified, the clash offers a battle between Norway’s explosive attack and France’s tournament experience.
Team News
Norway are unlikely to have Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson available after he suffered an injury against Senegal. Marcus Pedersen is expected to replace him.
Haaland will lead the attack after his outstanding start to the tournament.
France could rotate their attacking options, with Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue competing for starting roles. Manu Kone and Lucas Digne impressed after coming off the bench and could push for places in the starting lineup.
Mbappe remains France’s main attacking threat after scoring four goals so far.
Possible Lineups
Norway possible starting lineup:
Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Lysaker Heggem, Wolfe; Berge, Aursnes, Odegaard; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa
France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba; Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue; Mbappe
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts France 2-1 Norway.
