The battle for qualification in Group I of the FIFA World Cup 2026 reached a thrilling conclusion as Senegal produced a five-star performance to crush Iraq and keep their knockout hopes alive, while France edged Norway to finish top of the group.
It was a dramatic final round of group-stage action, with goals flowing freely and qualification hanging in the balance until the final whistle. France maintained their perfect record to confirm first place in Group I, while Senegal’s emphatic victory kept them firmly in contention for a place in the Round of 32 as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Senegal Keep World Cup Dream Alive
Knowing that only a convincing victory would give them a realistic chance of progressing, Senegal rose to the occasion with one of their finest displays of the tournament.
The Lions of Teranga dominated from the opening whistle, attacking with pace, confidence and precision to overwhelm Iraq in a one-sided contest.
Senegal wasted little time in asserting their authority, scoring early before adding further goals through a relentless attacking display that left the Iraqi defence with no answers.
Their five-goal haul not only secured all three points but also significantly boosted their goal difference—an important factor in the race for the best third-placed qualification spots.
The comprehensive victory sparked celebrations among Senegalian supporters, who will now await results from other groups to determine whether their team advances to the knockout stage.
France Complete Perfect Group Campaign
In the group’s headline fixture, France underlined their status as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy by defeating Norway in a hard-fought encounter.
Les Bleus once again displayed their quality, controlling key moments of the match and finding the decisive breakthrough against a Norwegian side that battled bravely throughout.
France’s disciplined defending and clinical finishing ensured they completed the group stage with maximum points, extending their unbeaten run and sending a strong message to the rest of the tournament.
The victory also denied Norway the opportunity to finish top of Group I, although the Scandinavians had already done enough in previous matches to secure qualification for the knockout rounds.
Group I Final Standings
France finished the group as leaders after winning all three of their matches, while Norway progressed in second place despite the defeat.
Senegal’s convincing victory lifted them into third place with renewed hope of reaching the Round of 32, depending on results elsewhere.
Iraq, meanwhile, exited the tournament after finishing bottom of the group.
