Norway vs France | FIFA World Cup 2026- Group Stages | Preview and Predictions

It is a pity that this game is a dead rubber given both sides have qualified for the knockout stages of the World Cup, but France and Norway clash against each other with top spot on the line, and with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland looking to stake their claim as the best marksman going around in this tournament in what is their first-ever time facing each other on the international stage.

Here is our Preview and Predictions for the game.

FIFA WC26 | Group I: NOR vs FRA | 00:30 IST, 27 June, 2026

Norway have had an exceptional tournament up until this point, making up for the significant time away from the World Cup stage, and almost most of that is down to the brilliance and class of their two best players in Erling Haaland and skipper Martin Odegaard.

Both of these players are completely different in the way they approach the game. While Haaland is all gas and no brakes, Odegaard is all calm, composure, and elegance. Yet they both have combined rather effectively to produce the results at this tournament. A comfortable 4-1 win against Iraq followed by a close 3-2 win against Senegal means that the Norwegian row will go on for at least another round in this World Cup, if not more.

The sight of Haaland galloping towards goalkeepers is one of the most brutal visuals any goalkeeper can experience. Just ask Iraq’s Jalal Hasan, who had his pocket picked by the big guy for his second goal of that game, or Senegal’s Edouard Mendy, who had the ball swiped away from him only for Haaland to find the post prevent what would have been another goal for him, much to his chagrin. 

While Norway’s attacks have been rightly getting all the plaudits for their performance upfront, the same cannot be said of their defenders, who have shown a bit of susceptibility and vulnerability in their defensive third. Against a France side that has some of the most devastating assortment of attackers which also includes Mbappe, they cannot afford to have these small mistakes and lapses or else they will have to play catch-up throughout.

For Les Bleus, they have finally found that right balance in their side after the error-strewn first-half performance against Senegal in their first game. They have played the players in the right positions and they have stepped up a gear, showing just how absurdly talented and skilled they are.

If Haaland and Odegaard run the show for Norway, it is Mbappe and Michael Olise who have developed what has been an almost telepathic understanding between each other. Olise has assisted Mbappe for 3 out of the 4 goals in this World Cup, showing just how in sync they are at this tournament. 

Even apart from the above duo, the likes of Ousmane Dembele and  Bradley Barcola have also chipped in with key performances and goals to ensure that they are not just reliant on one man or a two-man show. 

With qualification already guaranteed, France would be tempted to give the other attackers a good run-in, with the likes of Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Aliouche, and Warren Zaire-Emery set to get some minutes in the build-up to the knockout stages.

This game has all the ingredients to be one of the World Cup classics, and given the way some of the so-called “dead rubbers” have transpired so far, it would surprise absolutely no one that these two sides decide to go band for band against each other and serve us an all-timer.

We are expecting this game to be a high-scoring draw, and also believe that both Haaland and Mbappe get on the scoresheet in a gladiator match for the books.

Score Predictions: Norway 3-3 France

Venue: Boston Stadium, Foxborough.