Group I Preview
An intriguing group that is spearheaded by 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up France.
Les Bleus have an abundance of riches, particularly in attack, and should be able to overpower teams, particularly if Didier Deschamps releases the handbrake in his final tournament in charge.
Senegal will be eager to make up for their AFCON disappointment while Erling Haaland will be key to Norway’s challenge.
Iraq will be competitive but that may not be enough to go through.
Table of Contents
- World Cup Group I fixtures and where to watch
- France: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
- Senegal: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
- Norway: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
- Iraq: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
- Predicted World Cup 2026 Group I table
World Cup Group I fixtures and where to watch
| Fixture | Date | Kick-off (all UK BST) | Venue | Where to Watch |
| France v Senegal | June 16 | 20:00 | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | BBC1 and iPlayer |
| Iraq v Norway | June 16 | 23:00 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | BBC1 and iPlayer |
| France v Iraq | June 22 | 22:00 | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | BBC1 and iPlayer |
| Norway v Senegal | June 23 | 01:00 | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey | ITV and ITVX |
| Norway v France | June 26 | 20:00 | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough | ITV and ITVX |
| Senegal v Iraq | June 26 | 20:00 | BMO Field, Toronto | ITV and ITVX |
Here, we take a look at the teams in detail.
France: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Qualification: UEFA Group D winner
Best World Cup: Winners (1998 and 2018)
France are second favourites to win the World Cup and it is not hard to understand why.
Deschamps is able to call upon a squad of players handpicked from the biggest clubs in world football. Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, William Saliba, Aurelien Tchouameni, the list goes on and on.
In Qatar four years ago, and certainly at the 2024 European Championship, the feeling was Deschamps’ naturally cautious nature was holding the team back. They still reached the final in 2022 but that was largely down to individual brilliance.
If Deschamps can knit together Les Bleus’ formidable attacking talents and balance that with defensive solidity it is hard to see any other outcome than France at least reaching the final.
If there is one area that looks slightly susceptible then it is midfield but the likes of Manu Kone, Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery and the evergreen N’Golo Kante would still walk into most teams at the tournament.
Saliba’s back injury is a worry and Deschamps will be desperate for the Arsenal centre-half to be able to play through the pain before undergoing post-tournament surgery.
France Star Player: Olise has chance to shine
The obvious pick here would be Mbappe, a man who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final in Qatar.
However, Olise is a less well-known proposition despite a brilliant year with Bayern Munich. The London-born right-winger produced 15 goals and 19 assists in 32 league appearances for Bayern in the recently completed season, thrusting him into Deschamps’ plans.
The thought of him lining up alongside Mbappe and Dembele in a front three ought to spark fear into France’s opponents. In reserve, there is Rayan Cherki, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola.
Prediction: France will take some stopping
Barring an incredible upset, France will win the group, even though it is one of the tougher pools in terms of quality. They simply have too much firepower.
After that, they will be a team everyone wants to avoid in the knockout stages.
Don’t be surprised if Deschamps walks away with another World Cup triumph on his glittering CV.
Senegal: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Pape Thiaw
Qualification: CAF Group B winners
Best World Cup: Quarter-finals (2002)
When Senegal reached the quarter-finals of the 2002 World Cup it was viewed as a huge surprise. Things have changed so much in the past 24 years that it would arguably be a shock if Pape Thiaw’s men did not reach the last eight.
Senegal will arrive in North America with a point to prove after seeing their Africa Cup of Nations title controversially removed by CAF and awarded to Morocco after the Lions of Teranga left the pitch in protest at a series of refereeing decisions in the final.
They returned to win the game thanks to Pape Gueye’s extra-time strike but the trophy was later handed to the tournament hosts.
It left a sour taste and Thiaw, whose own role in the incident came under scrutiny, will be eager to write more positive headlines with a squad that has the ability to challenge even the best sides in the world.
African teams have long been associated with physicality but this Senegal side is packed full of skilful, technical players such as Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr. Add in the energy of Pape Matar Sarr and Habib Diarra and they should not be underestimated.
Senegal Star Player: Sadio the Mane man
Mane has been one of the most gifted attacking players in the world for many years. After starring for Liverpool and Bayern Munich, he now uses his talent to bring silverware to Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, contributing 16 goal involvements in just 25 league appearances.
Blessed with pace, skill and an eye for goal he will present a challenge to the best defences.
Now 34 years of age, this will likely be his last World Cup but don’t expect him to go quietly.
Prediction: Senegal to go through
Senegal have enough to qualify and they will expect to do better when they come up against a major European nation than they did in their underwhelming 3-0 defeat to England in the last 16 in Qatar.
There are omens that suggest Senegal could spring a few surprises along the way. They beat then defending champions France in the opening game of the 2002 tournament in what was one of the biggest upsets of all time with Thiaw on the bench.
A repeat is asking a lot but it would not be the massive shock it was in Japan and South Korea.
Norway: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Stale Solbakken
Qualification: UEFA Group I winners
Best World Cup: Round of 16 (1938, 1998)
Stale Solbakken’s side showed their potential in qualifying, winning all eight of their games in a group that also contained Italy.
They rounded out their qualification programme with a 4-1 win in Milan thanks to two goals from talismanic striker Haaland. The Manchester City man is a vital cog in the machine but simply focusing on him would be a disservice to a squad packed full of talent.
They have quality all over the field from the energetic Julian Ryerson at the back, the creativity of Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard in midfield and a strikeforce that also includes Atletico Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth and Crystal Palace’s Jorgen Strand Larsen. Antonio Nusa and Oscar Bobb provide the potential.
It is not hard to see why Norwegians are calling this their Golden Generation.
The wily Solbakken was a serial winner during his time at FC Copenhagen and if he can set his side up to provide the chances for Haaland, Sorloth and Larsen then Norway could be a dark horse.
Norway Star Player: Haaland has opportunity to take club form on to global stage
Erling Haaland has never played at a World Cup but now the best number nine of his generation has the chance to show his predatory instincts to a global audience.
His achievements at the age of 25 are already stuff of legend.
- Most goals in a single Premier League season
- Most goals scored in all competitions by a Premier League player in a single season
- First player to win consecutive Golden Boots in their first two Premier League seasons
- Fastest player to reach 50 Champions League goals
- First player to score in five consecutive Champions League games for three different clubs
- Fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals
He also has 55 goals in 48 international appearances. World Cup defences beware.
Prediction: Haaland to spearhead run to the knockout stages
Yes, there is more to Norway than Erling Haaland but he is still their central figure. If he fires Stateside, as he surely will, then Norway could cause a problem for the more established nations. Odegaard is one of the most creative players in the Premier League and his influence will also be important.
Write them off at your peril.
Iraq: 2026 World Cup preview, star player, prediction
Coach: Graham Arnold
Qualification: Via the Play-off tournament
Best World Cup: Group Stage (1986)
Iraq made it to the World Cup for the first time in 40 years via the most circuitous route. An epic 21-match qualification campaign that culminated in a 2-1 defeat of Bolivia in the Play-off Tournament eventually saw Graham Arnold’s men secure their place.
They deserved better than to be placed in a group stacked full of such quality.
Arnold has been here before with Australia, leading the Socceroos to the last 16 four years ago in Qatar.
His sides aren’t traditionally built on flair, more a rigid structure and boundless energy. Whether he can repeat the feat with Iraq is a tall order. There are some good players in his squad: midfield creator Amir Al Ammari, winger Ali Jassim and the vastly experienced striker Aymen Hussein but this is a huge step up in quality.
Arnold will have his side well drilled but whether that will be enough to stop the likes of Mbappe, Mane and Haaland is another matter.
Iraq Star Player: Jassim to use World Cup to catch the eye
Jassim has endured a nomadic existence but has the chance to find a permanent home if he can produce against some of the best sides in the world.
Currently contracted to Como in Italy’s Serie A, the 22-year-old has made just two appearances for the club and spent the past two seasons on loan in the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.
Quick, tricky and with an eye for goal, he will be expected to provide the ammunition for Hussein.
Prediction: Iraq’s remarkable run ends here
Iraq arguably over-achieved in reaching the finals but they will find it difficult having been handed a nightmare group. They may well end up with no points but they will not lack fight.
Predicted World Cup 2026 Group I table
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | |
| France | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Norway | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Senegal | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Iraq | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
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