France and Norway kicked off their campaigns at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with victories.
Both teams have the chance to secure their places in the final round on Monday, although a potential clash between them in the last game of group play looms large.
Current Standings in Group I
Here’s how Group I looks before the next matches scheduled for Monday, June 22.
Team |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
GD |
Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norway | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| France | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Senegal | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
| Iraq | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 0 |
Upcoming Matches in Group I
Here’s the schedule for the remaining Group I matches, with all times in Eastern Time.
France vs. Iraq, 5 p.m.
Norway vs. Senegal, 8 p.m.
Norway vs. France, 3 p.m.
Senegal vs. Iraq, 3 p.m.
Group I Scenarios
As we look ahead to June 22nd’s matches, let’s explore the situation in Group I. The winner between Norway and France on June 26th could very well determine the group’s champion.
If France wins against Iraq, they would reach the round of 32, unless Senegal upsets Norway.
Norway, on the other hand, would advance if they triumph over Senegal, provided Iraq doesn’t take down France.
This week, no team can exit the tournament, nor can any secure a place in the finals yet. The crucial tie between these two teams at the end of group play will decide their fate, where a win would see both advance to the Round of 32 as the third team.
Next, let’s discuss how tiebreakers work in this World Cup.
If teams find themselves with the same points after group matches, a three-step tiebreaker process will dictate the outcome.
The first involves the points earned in direct encounters between the tied teams, then the goal difference in those matches, and finally the total points scored across all matches among the tied teams.
If still tied, the teams will move to Step 2, where goal difference across all matches will come into play, followed by total goals scored and, lastly, a conduct score based on yellow and red cards.
Should ties persist beyond that, the latest FIFA Rankings will serve as a final determinant.
This is crucial for Norway and France, as the outcome on Monday could set them up for a strategic battle. If Norway defeats Senegal but Iraq surprises by beating France, Norway would end with six points, while Iraq and France would both sit at three. Iraq would win the tiebreaker against France based on head-to-head results.
However, if France were to claim victory over Norway and Senegal were to overcome Iraq, both teams would have six points. In that case, France would win the group through the direct tiebreaker.
Therefore, it’s quite possible that the Group I champion will emerge from the final matches.
Currently, Norway tops the group, edging out France based on goal difference.
