World Cup 2026 Group I: France and Norway to Face Senegal and Iraq

2026 FIFA World Cup Overview

According to Главком: The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, June 11. Group I of the tournament brings together the national teams of France, Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. This article examines key details about each squad, their tournament histories, qualification campaigns, and analyst predictions.

Group I Teams

• France

  France, aiming for their third World Cup title, brings substantial international experience. In the last two tournaments, they reached the finals, including a loss in the decisive match in Qatar 2022. During qualifying, France secured 16 points across six matches, with star forward Kylian Mbappé scoring five goals. Mbappé needs just two more goals to surpass legendary Just Fontaine as France's all-time top scorer in World Cup history. The French coaching staff plans to employ a 4-2-3-1 formation.

• Senegal

  Senegal arrives at their fourth World Cup with a notable tournament history. Making their debut in 2002, they reached the quarterfinals and famously defeated France in their opening match. This time, Senegal qualified without a single loss. Although the team won the Africa Cup of Nations, the trophy was later returned to Morocco due to a technical forfeit by Senegal. Key players include goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and defender Kalidou Koulibaly, while Sadio Mané-who helped Al-Nassr win the Saudi Arabian league-has recorded 14 goals and 9 assists.

• Iraq

  Iraq returns to the World Cup for only the second time, 40 years after their debut. Under coach Graham Arnold, the team advanced through four rounds of Asian qualifying and defeated Bolivia 2-1 in the intercontinental playoff final. Iraq uses a 4-4-2 formation, with notable forwards including Ali Al-Hamadi-the first Iraqi to play in the English Premier League-and Aymen Hussein.

• Norway

  Norway ends a 28-year World Cup drought, having missed six consecutive tournaments. In their last appearance in 1998, the team reached the round of 16. Coach Ståle Solbakken looks to new talents for success, including Erling Haaland-making his World Cup debut-and Alexander Sørloth, who scored 20 goals for Atlético Madrid.

Analyst Predictions

Analyst forecasts for Group I indicate a high probability of France advancing to the knockout stage at 95.66%, with an expected 6.46 points. Norway follows with an 87.74% chance of advancing and an expected 5.09 points. Senegal has a 61.72% probability of moving forward with 3.50 points, while Iraq holds the most modest chances at 21.87% and an expected 1.72 points.

Group I promises to be competitive and intriguing, featuring teams with varying levels of World Cup experience. Each team's success may depend not only on individual player abilities but also on coaching tactics and adaptability to tournament conditions, making matches in this group particularly exciting for fans.

As the tournament progresses, fans can also keep an eye on Group G, where teams like Belgium and Egypt are competing fiercely for a chance to advance to the knockout stages. The dynamics in this group add another layer of excitement to the World Cup, showcasing a diverse range of playing styles and strategies.