Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings together European heavyweights France, African champions Senegal, European qualifiers Norway, and the winner of the inter-confederation play-off Path 2 (Bolivia, Iraq, or Suriname).
The group stage runs from June 11 to June 27, 2026, with Group I matches scheduled between June 16 and June 26.
The opening match promises fireworks, as two-time world champions France face Senegal in a highly anticipated rematch of their iconic 2002 World Cup encounter.
Norway return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year absence, while the final group member will be confirmed following the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.
Group I – Teams
France
World Ranking: 3rd (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Didier Deschamps (Since July 2012)
Key Players: Kylian Mbappé (Captain and Real Madrid), Ousmane Dembélé (Winger, Paris Saint-Germain), Bradley Barcola (Forward, Paris Saint-Germain).
How they got here: France secured their spot by winning Group B of the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) qualification rounds, finishing ahead of the Netherlands with an unbeaten record.
World Cup Performance by Year: 1930 (Group stage), 1934 (Round of 16), 1938 (Quarter-finals), 1954 (Group stage), 1958 (Third place), 1966 (Group stage), 1978 (Group stage), 1982 (Fourth place), 1986 (Third place), 1998 (Champions), 2002 (Group stage), 2006 (Runners-up), 2010 (Group stage), 2014 (Quarter-finals), 2018 (Champions), 2022 (Runners-up).
What Success Looks Like: As the reigning 2018 champions and 2022 finalists, the minimum expectation for France is a deep run to the semi-finals or final. Their ultimate goal is to win a third World Cup title and become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive tournaments.
Senegal
World Ranking: 12th (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Pape Thiaw (Since December 2024)
Key Players: Sadio Mané (Winger, Al-Nassr), Kalidou Koulibaly (Defender, Al-Hilal), Idrissa Gueye (Midfielder, Everton)
How they got here: Senegal secured their spot in the 2026 World Cup by topping Group C in the CAF (Confederation of African Football) qualifiers, finishing ahead of strong competition from Ghana and Mali.
World Cup Performance by Year: 2002 (Quarter-finals, best performance, famously defeated defending champions France), 2018 (Group stage), 2022 (Round of 16).
What Success Looks Like: After consistently reaching the knockout stages, success for the Lions of Teranga would be matching their historic 2002 performance by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Norway
World Ranking: 32nd (as of January, 2026)
Coach: Ståle Solbakken (Since December 2020)
Key Players: Erling Haaland (Striker, Manchester City), Martin Ødegaard (Midfielder, Arsenal), Alexander Sørloth (Striker, Atlético Madrid)
How they got here: Norway secured their spot by finishing as one of the best-ranked second-place teams in the UEFA qualifiers, earning direct qualification to the expanded tournament after a record-breaking campaign where they were unbeaten.
World Cup Performance by Year: 1938 (Round of 16), 1994 (Group stage), 1998 (Round of 16, best performance).
What Success Looks Like: After a 28-year absence from the World Cup, success for Norway is a triumphant return to the knockout stages. Reaching the quarter-finals for the first time would be considered a major achievement for this new “golden generation” of Norwegian football.
Inter-confederation Play-off Winner
World Ranking: To be determined (Bolivia/Iraq/Suriname)
Coach: TBD
Key Players: TBD
How they got here: TBD
World Cup Performance by Year: TBD
What Success Looks Like: Reaching the group stage itself would be historic for any of the potential qualifiers, with every point earned representing a major achievement.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I Fixtures and Dates
All times are in Eastern Time (ET). Venues are on the East Coast for Group I.
| Date | Time (ET) | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, June 16 | 3:00 PM | France vs. Senegal | MetLife Stadium |
| Tue, June 16 | 6:00 PM | Inter-confederation Play-off Winner vs. Norway | Gillette Stadium |
| Mon, June 22 | 5:00 PM | France vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner | Lincoln Financial Field |
| Mon, June 22 | 8:00 PM | Norway vs. Senegal | MetLife Stadium |
| Fri, June 26 | 3:00 PM | Norway vs. France | Gillette Stadium |
| Fri, June 26 | 3:00 PM | Senegal vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner | BMO Field |
FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I points table
The standings below will update live during the tournament. Points are awarded as follows: Win = 3, Draw = 1, Loss = 0.
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1 | France | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Senegal | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bolivia / Iraq / Suriname | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Norway | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Head-to-Head Records & Historical Context
- France vs. Senegal: 1 meeting (2002 World Cup); Senegal win. Notable: Senegal’s 1-0 upset in the opening match, their only encounter.
- France vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner: TBD.
- France vs. Norway: 14 meetings; France wins 7, draws 4, Norway wins 3. Most recent: 2020 friendly, 2-1 France.
- Senegal vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner: TBD.
- Senegal vs. Norway: No official meetings recorded.
- Norway vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner: TBD.
Group I Outlook & Predictions
Predicted Finishing Order: 1st France, 2nd Norway, 3rd Senegal, 4th IC Path 2 Winner.
As 2018 champions and 2022 finalists, France possesses the deepest squad in the world. Their elite experience makes them heavy favorites to top the group with a perfect or near-perfect record.
Norway enter 2026 in outstanding form after a dominant qualifying campaign, driven by the Haaland–Ødegaard partnership, which is expected to propel them to the second automatic spot in their first World Cup since 1998.
Dark Horses and Potential Surprises: Senegal
A powerhouse in African football with significant tournament experience. Senegal’s physical, disciplined defensive structure is built to frustrate high-scoring European teams in particular.
If the “Lions of Teranga” can secure a 1-0 win or draw against France or Norway, they could push one of the favourites into the third-place play-offs.
When is the Group I matchday schedule?
Matches span June 16 (Matchday 1), June 22 (Matchday 2), and June 26 (Matchday 3), with two games per day. Please take a look at the FIFA World Cup 2026: Groups, Tables, Results, Scores.
How many teams qualify from Group I?
The top two advance automatically. The third-placed team may qualify if among the eight best third-placed across all groups.
Which city hosts which match?
- New York/New Jersey: France vs. Senegal (June 16) and Norway vs. Senegal (June 22).
- Boston: Inter-confederation Play-off Winner vs. Norway (June 16) and Norway vs. France (June 26).
- Philadelphia: France vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner (June 22).
- Toronto: Senegal vs. Inter-confederation Play-off Winner (June 26).