Group I brings together four nations with very different stories. France arrive as defending champions chasing a third title. Senegal carry the ambitions of a golden generation that has never reached a quarter-final since their remarkable run in 2002. Norway make their first World Cup appearance since 1998 — and do so with arguably the world’s best striker in Erling Haaland. Iraq complete the group, returning to the tournament after a 40-year absence.
Final 26-man squads are announced about two weeks before kickoff. This article is based on draw results, qualification context, and published squad announcements only. A detailed player-by-player breakdown will follow once the squads are confirmed.
Group I at a Glance
| Country | Confederation | Pot | Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | UEFA | 1 | 17th | Champions (1998, 2018) |
| Senegal | CAF | 2 | 4th | Quarter-finals (2002) |
| Norway | UEFA | 3 | 4th | Round of 16 (1938, 1998) |
| Iraq | AFC | 4 | 2nd | Group stage (1986) |
France’s pedigree towers over the rest of the group, but Senegal are a genuine heavyweight from CAF. Norway’s star quality makes them a realistic challenger for second place, and Iraq have shown they can compete at the continental level.
Match Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed, June 17 · 19:00 UTC | France vs Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ |
| Wed, June 17 · 22:00 UTC | Iraq vs Norway | Boston Stadium | Foxborough, MA |
| Mon, June 22 · 21:00 UTC | France vs Iraq | Philadelphia Stadium | Philadelphia, PA |
| Mon, June 22 · 00:00 UTC | Norway vs Senegal | New York New Jersey Stadium | East Rutherford, NJ |
| Fri, June 26 · 19:00 UTC | Norway vs France | Boston Stadium | Foxborough, MA |
| Fri, June 26 · 19:00 UTC | Senegal vs Iraq | Toronto Stadium | Toronto, Canada |
Matchday 3 (June 26) is simultaneous — Norway vs France and Senegal vs Iraq kick off at the same time, as with all World Cup final group games.
Team-by-Team
France — Deschamps’s Final Chapter
After back-to-back World Cup final appearances — winners in 2018, runners-up in 2022 — France arrive in 2026 looking for an unprecedented third title in 28 years. Didier Deschamps (in charge since 2012) has confirmed he will leave after the tournament, giving Group I the atmosphere of a farewell campaign from French football’s most successful manager.
Captain Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid) returns for a third World Cup as France’s all-time top scorer — 56 goals from 96 caps. The attack is loaded: two-footed winger Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), No.9 Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan) and Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) provide the cutting edge. In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid, 26) anchors with N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe) — the latter returning for a second World Cup after missing Qatar 2022 through injury. The central defence pairs Arsenal’s William Saliba and Bayern’s Dayot Upamecano.
World Cup history:
- 1998 (home): Champions
- 2006: Runners-up
- 2014: Quarter-finals
- 2018: Champions
- 2022: Runners-up
Senegal — A Golden Generation’s Last Shot
Under head coach Pape Thiaw (appointed 2024), Senegal make their third consecutive World Cup (4th overall). The squad announced on June 1 is still anchored by the golden generation that has set records but never surpassed the 2002 quarter-final — a ceiling this tournament is built to break.
Captain Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal, 102 caps) organises the defence, while Sadio Mané (Al-Nassr, 127 caps, 55 goals) — Senegal’s greatest player — lines up at what may be his final World Cup at 34. New to this tournament’s context is Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), who joined from Chelsea in summer 2025, bringing Premier League sharpness to the No.9 role. The midfield spine features Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham, 23) and Lamine Camara (Monaco, 22, an AFCON MVP candidate) representing the next wave. Idrissa Gueye (Everton, 130 caps) provides veteran experience in front of the defence.
World Cup history:
- 2002: Quarter-finals (legendary run as debutants, including a win over France)
- 2018: Group stage (eliminated on fair play rule, level on points with Japan)
- 2022: Round of 16
Norway — Haaland and Ødegaard’s World Cup Debut
Norway’s first World Cup since 1998 — a 28-year wait — and the long-awaited tournament stage for Erling Haaland (Manchester City), the most prolific striker of his generation. With 55 goals in 49 international appearances and three consecutive Premier League Golden Boots to his name, Haaland makes his first World Cup appearance at 25.
Alongside him, captain Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal, 67 caps) drives the attack from midfield. Head coach Ståle Solbakken supplements the two stars with Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid, 70 caps, 26 goals) as a second striking option, 20-year-old winger Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig, 22 caps, 7 goals) on the left, and the imposing Sander Berge (Fulham, 1.96m) in central midfield. First-choice goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland (Sevilla, 69 caps) brings experience.
Norway’s 4-3-3 system reflects Solbakken’s attack-minded philosophy, a sharp contrast to the traditionally cautious Norwegian sides of the past.
World Cup history:
- 1938: Round of 16 equivalent (quarter-finals era)
- 1994: Group stage
- 1998: Round of 16
Iraq — 40 Years in the Making
Under Australian head coach Graham Arnold (appointed 2025), Iraq make their first World Cup appearance since Mexico 1986 — a 40-year absence. Arnold, who guided Australia to the Qatar 2022 Round of 16, has brought tactical structure and a cohesive 4-3-3 to a squad that blends domestic Iraqi players with European-based and Sweden-born naturalised internationals.
Remarkably, both of Iraq’s World Cup appearances are co-hosted by Mexico (1986 and 2026), adding a historical symmetry to their return.
The attack is led by Aymen Hussein (Al-Karma, 93 caps, 33 goals — all-time top scorer) and Mohanad Ali (Dibba, 71 caps, 27 goals), nicknamed “the Iraqi Maradona” for his technical style. In midfield, Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht, Manchester United-developed) brings European pedigree, while Ali Al-Hamadi (Luton Town) provides English Championship experience on the wing. Captain Jalal Hassan (Al-Zawraa, 100 caps) — the symbolic figurehead of this historic return — stands between the posts.
World Cup history:
- 1986: Group stage (Mexico, 0 wins 1 draw 2 losses)
Head-to-Head History
| Matchup | Key History |
|---|---|
| France vs Senegal | Senegal shocked France 1-0 in the 2002 World Cup group stage opener. Multiple friendly meetings since |
| France vs Norway | 10+ prior meetings; no World Cup meeting. Most recent: 2022 friendly, France 2-1 |
| France vs Iraq | Very limited head-to-head history |
| Senegal vs Norway | Met in the 2002 World Cup group stage — a 3-3 draw. Their first meeting since |
| Senegal vs Iraq | No known competitive head-to-head; this group stage could be a first meeting |
| Norway vs Iraq | No known prior competitive meetings |
The most intriguing historical connection within the group is the Senegal–France rivalry: Senegal’s 1-0 win over France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup (France had won the 1998 title and Euro 2000) remains one of the tournament’s great upsets. The two nations meet again in Matchday 1 of Group I.
Senegal and Norway also share a 2002 group memory — a 3-3 draw in Group A — and renew acquaintance in Matchday 2.
Path to the Knockouts
On paper, France (Pot 1) are clear favourites to top the group, with Senegal (Pot 2) as the most likely second-place finishers. But the matchup landscape is less clear-cut than seedings suggest:
- Norway have two of the world’s best players — if Haaland fires, upsets are possible
- Senegal possess the physicality, quality and experience to beat any team in the group
- Iraq are not here to make up the numbers: Graham Arnold’s system has delivered results, and a first World Cup win since 1986 is a realistic aim
Under the 48-team format, the top 8 third-placed teams also advance to the knockout rounds — meaning all four nations have a plausible route to the Round of 32.
Summary
- France are the pre-tournament favourites, but Senegal — particularly in Matchday 1 — are the biggest early test
- Norway bring the World Cup’s most-anticipated individual narrative: Haaland’s first tournament
- Senegal’s golden generation have one last chance to surpass 2002
- Iraq’s return after 40 years is the group’s most emotional storyline
A follow-up article with squad-by-squad breakdowns and tactical previews will be published once the 26-man rosters are officially confirmed.