Norway’s return to the FIFA World Cup places StÃ¥le Solbakken’s side in one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.
Group I includes France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway. France enters as the favorite to win the group, while Norway, Senegal and Iraq are competing for qualification places in the expanded 48-team tournament. The top two teams in each group advance automatically, while some third-place teams can also progress to the knockout stage.
Norway World Cup 2026 Fixtures
June 16, 2026
Iraq vs Norway
Group I
Boston (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET
June 22, 2026
Norway vs Senegal
Group I
East Rutherford, New Jersey
Kickoff: 8:00 PM ET
June 26, 2026
Norway vs France
Group I
Boston (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
Kickoff: 3:00 PM ET
All three matches are expected to play a significant role in determining qualification from Group I.
Group I Teams
France
Senegal
Iraq
Norway
France reached the 2022 World Cup final and enters the tournament as one of the favorites. Senegal arrives with significant tournament experience, while Iraq returns to the World Cup after a long absence. Norway is competing in its first World Cup since 1998.
Group I Schedule
June 16
France vs Senegal
Iraq vs Norway
June 22
France vs Iraq
Norway vs Senegal
June 26
Norway vs France
Senegal vs Iraq
The final round of group matches will be played simultaneously.
🚨 Key Players To Watch
🇳🇴 Norway
Erling Haaland
Martin Ødegaard
Antonio Nusa
Oscar Bobb
🇫🇷 France
Kylian Mbappé
Ousmane Dembélé
Aurélien Tchouaméni
🇸🇳 Senegal
Sadio Mané
Kalidou Koulibaly
Édouard Mendy
🇮🇶 Iraq
Aymen Hussein
Ibrahim Bayesh
What Norway Needs To Advance
The most straightforward route is finishing in the top two positions in Group I.
Norway’s opening match against Iraq could prove decisive. A victory would place Solbakken’s side in a strong position before facing Senegal and France. The match against Senegal may ultimately determine whether Norway advances automatically or enters the race for one of the best third-place spots.
Latest Update
Norway’s World Cup campaign begins on June 16 against Iraq in Boston. The team then faces Senegal before concluding the group stage against France.
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