FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS / EuroWire / – France sealed first place in FIFA World Cup Group I with a 4-1 win over Norway on Friday, completing the group stage with three wins from three matches. Senegal also closed its group campaign with a 5-0 victory over Iraq in Toronto, earning its first win of the tournament and finishing third in the table.
Ousmane Dembélé led France with a first-half hat trick at Boston Stadium. He scored in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes as France took control before halftime. Thelo Aasgaard scored for Norway in the 21st minute, giving the match a brief shift before France restored its two-goal lead.
Désiré Doué added France’s fourth goal in second-half stoppage time. France ended Group I on nine points, ahead of Norway, which had already secured a place in the Round of 32. Norway rested several regular starters, including Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, for the final group match.
Senegal record decisive Toronto win
Senegal produced its strongest performance of the group stage at Toronto Stadium. Habib Diarra opened the scoring before Ismaila Sarr added a second goal. Pape Gueye then scored twice, and Iliman Ndiaye completed the 5-0 result as Senegal moved to three points.
Iraq finished the match with 10 players after Rebin Sulaka received a red card following a VAR review. The defeat left Iraq fourth in Group I without a point. Senegal finished behind France and Norway, with goal difference improved by its final match result.
Group I positions settled
France advanced as group winner and Norway went through as runner-up. The result confirmed France’s place in the first knockout round after a group stage that included wins over Iraq, Senegal and Norway. France scored regularly across the three matches and ended the group with a perfect record.
Senegal’s victory gave the African side its first points of the 2026 World Cup. The result also marked the largest win by an African team at a World Cup finals match. Group I closed with France on top, Norway second, Senegal third and Iraq fourth.