Key takeaways
- France beat Norway 4-1 on 26 June, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a first-half hat-trick.
- Les Bleus finished top of Group I with a perfect three wins from three.
- Norway still advanced as runners-up despite the defeat; Thelo Aasgaard scored their consolation.
- The Mbappé v Haaland duel fizzled — neither star scored in the group finale.
France saved arguably their most ruthless performance of the group stage for last. On 26 June, Ousmane Dembélé struck a first-half hat-trick as Les Bleus dismantled Norway 4-1 to finish top of Group I with a perfect record. The win was confirmed by ESPN and by Olympics.com, whose match report led with Dembélé’s blistering opening 45 minutes.
What happened
The build-up was billed as Kylian Mbappé versus Erling Haaland — two of the planet’s most lethal forwards meeting with a Golden Boot subplot attached. Instead, the night belonged to a third man. Dembélé tore Norway apart before the break, completing his treble inside the first half. Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back for Norway between the goals, and the Scandinavians even won an early second-half penalty, but the spot-kick was squandered and France never looked troubled.
The headliners stayed quiet on the scoresheet: neither Mbappé nor Haaland added to their tournament tallies, leaving the Golden Boot race wide open heading into the knockouts. For more on that, see our World Cup 2026 Golden Boot race update.
Group I, settled
The result sealed first place in Group I for France, who completed a flawless group stage: 3-1 over Senegal in the opener (the night Mbappé became France’s all-time top scorer), 3-0 over Iraq, and now 4-1 over Norway. Erling Haaland’s Norway still go through as runners-up on the back of their earlier wins, including a 3-2 thriller against Senegal. Senegal, meanwhile, kept faint hopes alive as one of the best third-placed teams.
If you’re tracking who has booked their place, our Round of 32 qualified tracker is updated as groups close out.
The betting angle
A few things jump out for punters from this performance:
- France look the real deal. A team that can win a “dead-ish” final group game 4-1, with a hat-trick from a player who isn’t even their headline striker, has serious depth. That matters when you’re weighing up the outright market — check our World Cup 2026 winner odds explained before backing a favourite.
- First-goalscorer markets are a minefield. Dembélé proved that the “obvious” names (Mbappé, Haaland) don’t always cash. Spreading risk across a squad’s secondary threats can offer value — something we cover in football betting odds explained.
- Don’t overreact to one result. Norway’s runners-up finish means they may face a softer or tougher draw depending on the bracket. Read the matchup, not the scoreline.
New to building these bets? Our World Cup 2026 betting guide for the Philippines walks through markets, odds and bankroll basics in plain English.
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What’s next
France march into the Round of 32 as one of the form teams of the tournament, full of confidence and goals from across the front line. Norway carry Haaland’s threat into a tougher knockout draw. With the bracket taking shape, value will increasingly come from reading individual matchups rather than chasing the biggest names.
Bet responsibly. Odds and outcomes are never guaranteed, and this article is for readers 18 and over. Set a budget, treat it as entertainment, and never chase losses. If gambling stops being fun, take a break — see our responsible gambling resources for support.
Frequently asked questions
What was the final score of France vs Norway?
France beat Norway 4-1 on 26 June 2026, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring all of his goals in the first half and Thelo Aasgaard replying for Norway.
Did France win Group I?
Yes. France topped Group I with a perfect record of three wins, beating Senegal, Iraq and Norway. Norway advanced as runners-up.
