Norway vs France: Haaland vs Mbappé, With 1st Place on the Line

Predictions

Most experts make France the favorites, but they expect goals at both ends, because Norway and Haaland are always a threat.

This is one of the games of the group stage, with two top teams and two of the best forwards on the planet.

• Our prediction: France win 2-1, with Mbappé and Haaland both scoring.
• Racing Post: a France win.
• SportsLine: a narrow 2-1 win for France.

What does each team need?

Both teams have a perfect 6 points in Group I, so they are already safely through to the round of 32.

This game simply decides who finishes 1st, and France are at the top for now thanks to a +5 goal difference, just ahead of Norway's +4.

That means Norway must win to take 1st place, and the margin does not matter, because any win would put them 3 points clear. A draw or a France win sends France through as group winners.

Finishing 1st usually means a slightly kinder path in the knockout bracket, so there is plenty to play for.

Why are France the favorites?

France have the deepest squad at the World Cup, and they have been ruthless so far.

They beat Senegal 3-1 and Iraq 3-0, with Kylian Mbappé, the number 10, already on 2 goals.

A win here would see France top their World Cup group for a 4th time in a row, which says a lot about them.

That is why the bookmakers make them clear favorites at about -155.

Can Norway cause an upset?

Norway are no easy night for anyone, and they have scored 7 goals in their 2 wins.

They beat Iraq 4-1 and Senegal 3-2, with Erling Haaland scoring twice in the opener.

Haaland, the number 9, is one of the best strikers in the world, and Norway will throw everything at France to top the group.

At odds of around +350, a Norway win would be a shock, but few teams want to face Haaland when he is on a mission.

New to American odds? Our odds converter shows them as fractions or decimals.

Our call: France 2-1

We are going with a tight France win, 2-1.

France have more top players in their team, and that should be just enough to win.

But we fully expect Norway to score, with Haaland always likely to find a chance.

If you love watching star forwards go head to head, this is the game to pick.

What is at stake in Group I?

The only real prize left here is 1st place, since both teams are already into the knockout round.

The winner tops Group I and lines up a friendlier route in the knockout bracket, which matters once the big teams start meeting.

The other game, Senegal vs Iraq, is between two teams who are both already out, so the most exciting match this Friday is this one.

For a clash of two heavyweights with nothing to fear, this is a great watch.

Where and when can you watch?

The game is on Friday June 26, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston.

Kickoff is 15:00 (3:00 PM) Eastern time.

You can also see all the details on the match page.

Need a seat for it? Take a look at our World Cup tickets guide.