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  • Norway vs France FIFA World Cup 2026 Match Highlights: FRA 4-1 NOR; Ousmane Dembele's magnificent hat-trick powers France to a dominant win over Norway

Ousmane Dembele put on a masterclass as France dismantled Norway 4-1 at the Gillette Stadium to finish their group campaign with a perfect record. The winger smashed a sensational first-half hat-trick to ensure Les Bleus marched into the Round of 32 as Group I toppers.

France asserted dominance early. Dembele opened the account in the 13th minute with a clinical finish and doubled the advantage just five minutes later, capitalising on defensive lapses. Norway briefly found hope in the 41st minute when midfielder Thelo Aasgaard pulled one back with a well-taken strike. However, Dembele crushed the Norwegian momentum right before halftime, completing his hat-trick in the 45th minute to make it 3-1.

Norway returned with intent in the second half and earned a lifeline in the 48th minute, but Jorgen Strand Larsen failed to convert from the penalty spot. Youngster Oscar Bobb created multiple openings down the flank, but heavy touches and a solid French backline anchored by Mike Maignan kept the Norwegians at bay.

As the match wound down, France manager Didier Deschamps rung in changes, resting captain Kylian Mbappé. The substitutes combined perfectly in the 94th minute when Bradley Barcola's sharp cross found Désiré Doué, who headed home a late fourth to cap off a dominant performance.

Despite the heavy defeat, Norway qualified for the knockout stages as group runners-up, while France cemented their status as tournament favourites.

France finish their Group I campaign in absolute style, preserving their perfect record with three wins out of three to march into the Round of 32 as clear tournament favorites. Dembélé's sensational 32-minute first-half hat-trick completely broke the spine of this match, and despite a spirited, aggressive restart from the Norwegians, Didier Deschamps' men never truly looked out of control. Désiré Doué’s late header was just the clinical cherry on top.

For Norway, it’s a tough scoreline to swallow given their dominant stretches in the second half. Had Jorgen Strand Larsen converted his penalty or Oscar Bobb taken a cleaner first touch, we could have had a grandstand finish. However, Stale Solbakken can hold his head high as Norway have done enough across the group stage to secure passage to the knockout rounds as group runners-up.

90+4'- They haven't had to get out of second gear for most of this second half, but Les Bleus put the final punctuation mark on an absolute masterclass. This one was entirely manufactured by the Paris Saint-Germain connection.

Bradley Barcola sparks a late flurry down the left flank, driving confidently toward the byline before pulling off a sharp, signature chop back onto his favored right foot. He spots his club teammate hovering in the box and delivers an absolute peach of a cross.

Désiré Doué timing is impeccableas he climbs highest, connects cleanly, and guides a precise header right into the bottom-left corner, leaving Egil Selvik with no chance.

90+2'- Theo Hernández spots a massive gap and barrels forward into space down the inside-left channel on a late French counter-attack.

He has plenty of options flanking him on either side screaming for a pass to put the game completely to bed, but the Milan left-back decides to go for individual glory. He unleashes a powerful, speculative effort aimed at the spectacular, but he gets under it completely. The ball sails high, wide, and comfortably over the crossbar into the stands.

90'- The board goes up at Gillette Stadium. We will play a minimum of five extra minutes here in Foxborough.

The sting has completely left the encounter. France are knocking the ball sideways and backward with absolute ease, and Norway's pressing has dropped off entirely. Both teams look thoroughly content with the current state of play and are actively avoiding any rash challenges or silly injuries before the final whistle sounds.

Barring a late miracle, France have successfully locked up the top spot in Group I.

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87'- French assistant Guy Stéphan is shutting up shop for the final minutes. Skipper Kylian Mbappé and defender Jules Koundé are brought off to rest, with Malo Gusto and Jean-Philippe Mateta entering the pitch.

France are keeping the ball comfortably now, entirely content to just knock it around and run down the clock.

81'- A flash of combining play from the French substitutes nearly creates an opening. Désiré Doué picks up the ball in midfield and showcases his vision, threading a beautifully weighted, low pass down the left channel for a charging Bradley Barcola to hunt down.

Barcola uses his explosive pace to burst into the Norwegian penalty area, but as he tries to spot a teammate, his cutback is slightly rushed and inaccurate. He still does well enough to force a deflection out of Jesper Langas and win a corner for his team. Rayan Cherki swings the set-piece into a crowded box, but the cross lacks depth and the Norwegian defense easily thumps it away to safety.

78'- Desperation is beginning to creep in for Norway as the clock ticks away.

Looking to spark some urgency, Patrick Berg takes matters into his own hands in the middle of the pitch. Spotting a brief pocket of space, he tries to step up the tempo by unleashing a speculative, powerful low drive from well outside the box.

74'- Aurélien Tchouaméni becomes the first French player to go into the referee's notebook tonight. The Real Madrid anchor left absolutely everything on Thelo Aasgaard, stopping a surging Norwegian counter-attack with a brutal, crunching slide tackle. It’s a stonewall yellow card, but it halts a highly dangerous transition.

Despite the scoreline, the Norwegian fans are in absolutely elite voice. The traveling supporters have just launched into a mesmerizing "Viking Row" in the stands, syncing up perfectly to create a spine-tingling wall of sound.

Immediately after the booking, France make another tactical modification at the back. Dayot Upamecano’s evening is over as Ibrahima Konaté enters the pitch to partner William Saliba and keep Norway's physical frontline at bay.

72'- Norway are absolutely knocking on the door, but their clinical edge has completely deserted them in this second half.

Thelo Aasgaard, the lone goalscorer for the Red and Whites tonight—ruthlessly snaffles possession away from Manu Koné about 30 yards out from the French goal. He drives forward and slides a perfectly weighted, defense-splitting pass over to Oscar Bobb, who finds himself completely isolated in acres of space to his right inside the penalty box.

It’s a dream opportunity, but Bobb takes a uncharacteristically heavy first touch, letting the ball get slightly away from him. He still manages to recover quickly and get a shot away, attempting a cute flip towards the bottom-left corner. However, without the proper leverage, it lacks any real sting. Mike Maignan reads it comfortably, tracking across his line to parry the ball away and maintain France's two-goal cushion.

69'- While Norway and France play out their drama in Boston, Senegal are doing exactly what they need to keep their World Cup dreams alive. Over at the Toronto Stadium, the Lions of Teranga have built a commanding 3-0 lead.

The match completely flipped on its head in the 13th minute when Iraq's Rebin Sulaka was hit with a straight red card following a VAR review. Down a man, Iraq have been completely overwhelmed by Senegal's relentless pressure.

67'- The entire stadium rises to its feet! Ousmane Dembélé’s unforgettable afternoon draws to a close as Guy Stéphan rings the changes to protect his match-winner. A 32-minute World Cup hat-trick that will be talked about for decades.

A double switch for Les Bleus:

ON: Rayan Cherki & Bradley Barcola

OFF: Ousmane Dembélé & Michael Olise

Fresh, terrifyingly creative legs enter the fray for France. Meanwhile, Norway manager Stale Solbakken makes another defensive alteration after Falchener's earlier errors, bringing on Viking FK's towering center-back Jesper Gregersen Langas to shore up the back three.

63'- After a relatively quiet opening 45 minutes, Oscar Bobb has completely come to life and is firmly at the heart of everything positive for Norway right now. The Manchester City starlet is demandingly calling for the ball, and his teammates are continuously looking to him to provide that creative spark.

He just showcased his elite technical ability, dancing and wriggling his way through a maze of French shirts to breach the penalty box once again. He quickly shifted the ball onto his preferred left foot to unleash a shot, but Dayot Upamecano threw himself into the line of fire, executing a crucial block to deflect the danger away.

57'- Kylian Mbappé hasn’t found the back of the net himself tonight, but he just came agonizingly close to reminding everyone exactly who he is.

Collecting the ball out on the left edge of the Norwegian penalty area, the French captain quickly shifted it onto his favored right foot. He opened up his body beautifully, looking to replicate his trademark finish by bending a gorgeous, curling effort toward the far top corner. Egil Selvik was completely stranded, but the strike whistled just inches wide of the post.

53'- Whatever Stale Solbakken said to his squad inside the dressing room at halftime has completely transformed their demeanor. Even after that devastating penalty miss by Strand Larsen, Norway haven't let their heads drop for a second.

They are playing with a completely renewed sense of aggression, hunting down the ball in packs and moving it with sharp, vertical urgency. They just forced a corner through some relentless work down the right flank, and though the set-piece was eventually cleared away by Ibrahima Konaté, the momentum is undeniably with the men in Red right now.

France are being forced to defend deep inside their own half for the first prolonged stretch of the match.

49'- Oh, Jorgen Strand Larsen, what have you done?! A golden lifeline has been absolutely blown to pieces.

The Crystal Palace striker stepped up to take the responsibility, attempting a high-risk stutter-step during his run-up to unseat the keeper. But Mike Maignan didn't bite. He stayed completely tall, read the body language perfectly, and guessed right.

47'- Norway have introduced Marcus Holmgren Pedersen and Morten Thorsby, replacing Fredrik André Bjorkan and Kristian Thorstvedt.

Thorsby will bring some much-needed steel, physical presence, and defensive engine to the center of the park to disrupt France's fluid transitions. Meanwhile, Pedersen slots into the backline to provide fresher, quicker legs against the terrifying pace of Mbappé and Dembélé. Let's see if the tactical shake-up can shift the momentum.

46'- The players have emerged from the tunnels, the referee blows his whistle, and the second half is officially underway at the Boston Stadium.

France are sitting incredibly comfortably with that two-goal cushion thanks to Ousmane Dembélé’s historic first-half hat-trick. No immediate changes from stand-in manager Guy Stéphan at the break, but you have to imagine he’ll look to wrap his key stars in cotton wool soon if this scoreline holds.

45+6'- The referee blows the whistle to signal the end of a breathtaking first half in Boston. What an absolute spectacle!

Ousmane Dembélé completely stole the show with an historic, dazzling 32-minute hat-trick—the second-fastest treble ever recorded in a World Cup finals match. Despite a brilliantly executed reply from Norway's Thelo Aasgaard to briefly make it a contest, France are in total control of this Group I finale.

Norway look completely exhausted trying to track the fluid movement of the French frontline, and Stale Solbakken has a massive rebuilding job to do in the dressing room if they are to salvage anything from this.

45+3'- Want a prime example of why this French performance is an absolute masterclass?

We are deep into first-half stoppage time, up 3-1, and yet Kylian Mbappé is sprinting at full tilt back toward the halfway line. He ruthlessly cuts out a Norwegian midfield pass, tracking back defensively to reclaim possession for his side.

When your superstar forward is working that hard defensively right before the break, you know the team's mentality is entirely locked in. From Dembélé's clinical finishing to the non-stop tracking back from the front four, they have all been absolutely superb.

45'- The fourth official raises the electronic board to signal a hefty five minutes of stoppage time at the end of this exhilarating opening 45. Given the frantic pace, the goals, and that packed hydration break, it’s completely justified.

France instantly looked to maximize the extra time. Michael Olise picked up a clever pocket of space on the edge of the box, shifting onto his preferred left foot. He let fly with a curling effort, but he rushed the execution slightly under pressure from Patrick Berg, sending the ball safely over Egil Selvik's crossbar.

42'- Norway's heavily rotated backline is gifting chances left, right, and center.

Center-back Nikolai Falchener completely chunks a standard back pass under zero pressure, getting his feet tangled and leaving it entirely short. The lightning-quick Désiré Doué completely nips in to steal the ball, leaving him with absolutely nothing but the keeper to beat.

Doué shifts his weight and attempts to round Egil Selvik to slot it into an empty net, but the Norwegian shot-stopper reads it brilliantly. Selvik drops low, spreads himself, and bravely smothers the ball directly at the forward's feet. A vital intervention to prevent this game from getting entirely out of hand before the break!

34'- It is blindingly fast, but not quite the fastest in World Cup history! While Dembélé's 32-minute treble has blown everyone away tonight, the all-time record still belongs to Austria’s Erich Probst, who smashed a hat-trick in just 24 minutes against Czechoslovakia way back in 1954.

Even so - Mon Dieu, c'est rapide! Absolute lightning in Foxborough.

32'- Wow. Wow. Wow. We are witnessing absolute history at the Boston Stadium!

Ousmane Dembélé has scored a World Cup hat-trick inside just 32 minutes! It is an absolutely unbelievable individual clinic from the Paris Saint-Germain winger, completely dismantling the Norwegian defense before the stadium clock has even wound down to halftime.

France worked the ball with terrifying speed through the lines. Dembélé found space once again, drifted into a lethal pocket, and thumped a sensational, venomous strike past Egil Selvik to secure his third of the night and make it Norway 1-3 France!

28'- Norway are really beginning to find their rhythm after that initial French storm. Andreas Schjelderup just showcased some brilliant footwork down the left flank, storming into the box and whipping a dangerous ball across the face of the goal.

It was a proper "heart-in-mouth" moment for the French defense as the ball flashed through the six-yard area, but Mike Maignan was alert, showing good reflexes to pounce on the delivery and snuff out the danger before any oncoming Norwegian attacker could pounce.

24'- The referee blows his whistle to pause the match for a quick hydration break, and it is met with a chorus of boos from the 68,000+ fans inside Boston Stadium - they simply do not want this breathtaking action to stop!

What an absolutely breathless opening quarter of an hour we've just witnessed in Foxborough. Three goals, a yellow card, a shot off the crossbar, and end-to-end transition football played at a ferocious tempo.

As the players head to the touchlines to rehydrate and the managers frantically bark out tactical adjustments, we are taking a quick second to catch our breath and let our fingers rest.

21'- Before the broadcasters could even finish showing the replays of Dembélé's second goal, Norway went on the attack. The ball was shuttled rapidly down the left wing and worked infield to Thelo Aasgaard.

The Wigan Athletic midfielder showed absolute ice-cold composure—he dropped a sharp shoulder to completely leave Dayot Upamecano for dead, opened up his body, and planted a clinical, low drive right into the bottom left corner. Mike Maignan didn't even move, rooted completely to the spot!

Game on in Boston! This is turning into an absolute World Cup classic.

20'- He has done it again! Ousmane Dembélé is putting on an absolute clinic in Foxborough, tearing this second-string Norwegian defense to shreds.It was almost a carbon copy of his first goal.

Dembélé collected the ball wide on the right, cut inside with terrifying ease, and curl-pearls a magnificent, unstoppable strike across Egil Selvik right into the bottom-left corner. Absolute poetry in motion. The goal wasn't without a bit of controversy, though.

Kylian Mbappé was heavily involved in the buildup and appeared to be heavily tugged back by Leo Ostigard as he drove forward. The referee waved play-on, letting the advantage run, and Dembélé punished Norway instantly.

14'- Oh wow, that is an absolute shocker of a miss from Jorgen Strand Larsen! Norway should be right back on level terms here.

The play started out wide where Fredrik Aursnes did brilliantly down the flank. He looked up and clipped a beautiful, inviting delivery right into the heart of the French penalty area.

The ball eluded the French center-backs and fell perfectly for Strand Larsen. The Crystal Palace forward had the target at his mercy, but with the goal wide open, he completely rushed his execution and fired his first-time effort high over the crossbar!

11'- Norway simply cannot cope with the sheer movement and fluidity of France’s attacking quartet. The frontline of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, and Michael Olise is causing absolute havoc, constantly interchanging positions and dragging the heavily rotated Norwegian defenders all over the shop.

It was nearly 2-0 just now. Another swift, dazzling combination unlocked the backline and found Michael Olise completely unmarked inside the 18-yard box. The Bayern Munich star set himself and fired a dangerous effort, but a desperate, lunging Norwegian block managed to deflect it away for a corner just in time.

9'- Things are going from bad to worse early on for Norway. Head coach Stale Solbakken already cuts a highly concerned figure on the touchline, and his mood won't be helped by his captain for the night entering the referee's book.

Patrick Berg has picked up a very early yellow card after being forced to haul back a surging Michael Olise. The French midfielder turned on the afterburners in transition, and Berg tactically dragged him down to prevent another dangerous break.

7'- France have broken the deadlock, and it is a breathtaking strike from Ousmane Dembele!

After a chaotic opening six minutes, Les Bleus completely squeezed the life out of the rotated Norwegian defense with heavy possession. The ball broke out wide to the Paris Saint-Germain winger, who cut inside smoothly, picked his spot from distance, and unleashed an absolute rocket of a shot that flew past a helpless Egil Selvik.

What an incredible start to this game. This French frontline looks absolutely terrifying tonight, clicking into gear instantly.

4'- What an absolutely ferocious pace we have started with! This game is flowing like a basketball match, end-to-end stuff.

Immediately after Mbappé shook the crossbar, Norway counter-attacked with incredible speed. They flooded the French box and vociferously claimed a penalty for a challenge on the stretch, but the referee waved it away without a second thought. No VAR intervention either.

France immediately turned the transition back the other way. The ball shifted swiftly to Manu Koné on the edge of the 18-yard box. The Roma midfielder lowered his head and slammed a powerful, stinging effort towards the target, but Egil Selvik read it well and beat it away with a strong two-handed save.

1'- Unbelievable start! We aren't even a minute into this match and Kylian Mbappé has already sent shivers down the spine of the Norwegian defense.

Right from France's opening possession, the captain picked up the ball and charged down the right flank with terrifying pace. He easily cut inside the penalty box onto his stronger foot and unleashed a blistering effort that rattled heavily back off the crossbar!

1'- Before the ball was rolled, a impeccably observed moment of silence was held by both sets of players and the 68,000+ fans inside the stadium to pay respect to the victims of the devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday.

With the tribute concluded, the referee blows his whistle and a rotated Norway side gets us rolling from right to left in their traditional red shirts! France immediately press high in their mint-green kits.

We are officially active. Let's see who stamps authority on Group I first!

The teams are out on the pitch at a buzzing Boston Stadium. Norway are looking sharp in their classic red kits, while France have lined up in their minty alternative colors.

We just wrapped up the national anthems—the proud and stately Norwegian anthem followed by the soaring, unmatched energy of La Marseillaise.

The atmosphere is absolutely electric here at the home of the Patriots and Revolution. The captains are at the center circle for the coin toss, the referees are checking their watches, and we are officially ready to roll.

Don't go anywhere, kickoff is next!

To wrap up our pre-match buildup before the players take the field at the Boston Stadium, let's take a quick look at the history books. While tonight’s Group I decider carries massive implications for the tournament tree, it also marks a historical first for these two European nations.

Despite a footballing relationship that spans over a century, France and Norway have never faced each other in a major international tournament until tonight. All their previous meetings have been restricted to friendly matches or qualifying rounds.

Overall Head-to-Head Record

Total Matches: 15
France Wins: 7
Norway Wins: 4
Draws: 4

The last time these two teams stepped onto the same pitch was over a decade ago, on May 27, 2014. In an international friendly ahead of the 2014 World Cup, France dismantled Norway 4-0 at the Stade de France.

France talisman and captain Kylian Mbappe has stated that individual accolades mean absolutely nothing compared to the prospect of Les Bleus lifting their third World Cup trophy on July 19.The 27-year-old forward reached a historic milestone in Monday’s 3-0 demolition of Iraq, netting a clinical brace that propelled him to 16 career World Cup goals.

The feat drew him level with Germany icon Miroslav Klose and placed him just two goals behind Lionel Messi’s newly-minted all-time record of 18 goals. To add to the occasion, the game also marked Mbappé's 100th international cap—making him the youngest Frenchman ever to reach the century mark.

Despite being on the verge of footballing immortality, Mbappé shrugged off any individual rivalry with his former PSG teammate Messi, underscoring his team-first mentality:“I would play the entire World Cup without scoring, if France win the trophy. There is no saga [with Messi]. Leo scores, and he will always score. I don’t watch what he does, otherwise I will have to do more. I only look at my team."

Mbappé's single-minded focus on France’s collective progression serves as an intimidating warning to their opponents. He is a player completely unburdened by pressure, focused strictly on leading his country back to the absolute pinnacle of world football.

As we edge closer to kickoff, a fascinating tactical sub-plot is developing. Winning Group I isn't just a matter of pride for Les Bleus- it maps out an entirely different journey toward the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium. Interestingly, looking closely at the tournament tree, finishing second might just offer a highly dramatic, alternative path.Here is how the knockout road splits for France tonight depending on the result against Norway:

If France WIN the group (or draw):A top spot puts France on a collision course with a third-place qualifier in the Round of 32 (with a dangerous Sweden side looming as a possibility). Survival there, however, thickens the plot significantly, as it likely sets up a massive heavyweight clash against Germany in the Round of 16.

If France LOSE the group: Finishing second sets up an immediate, explosive Round of 32 clash against Ivory Coast, who just punched their ticket yesterday. Should they navigate past the Ivorians, a blockbuster date with Brazil potentially lies in wait in the Round of 16. The road doesn’t get any friendlier from there, with England expected to block the path in the quarterfinals, and Lionel Messi's Argentina seeded to meet them in the semifinals.

It's a classic World Cup dilemma: secure the "easier" immediate fixture, or gamble on a draw to avoid early bracket collisions with soccer's absolute giants. Assistant coach Guy Stéphan has insisted the team is playing only for a win, but the numbers on the whiteboard tell a very complicated story!

We have a massive twist from the Foxborough dugout! Following his "pressure cooker" comments yesterday, Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has thrown a tactical curveball by heavily rotating his squad. Generational superstar Erling Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard both start on the bench tonight.

Meanwhile, Les Bleus field an incredibly formidable starting eleven under assistant Guy Stéphan, led upfront by the explosive Kylian Mbappé.

Here are the official, full-name lineups for both teams:

Norway Starting XI: Goalkeeper: Egil Selvik

Defenders: Fredrik André Bjørkan, Henrik Sælebakke Falchener, Leo Østigård, Fredrik Aursnes

Midfielders: Thelo Aasgaard, Patrick Berg, Kristian Thorstvedt

Forwards: Andreas Schjelderup, Jørgen Strand Larsen, Oscar Bobb

Subs: Ørjan Nyland, Egil Tangvik, Morten Thorsby, Kristoffer Ajer, David Møller Wolfe, Alexander Sørloth, Sander Berge, Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Torbjørn Heggem, Antonio Nusa, Jens Petter Hauge, Sondre Langås, Julian Ryerson.

France Starting XI: Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan

Defenders: Théo Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé

Midfielders: Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Désiré Doué

Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé

Subs: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Malo Gusto, Lucas Digne, Marcus Thuram, Bradley Barcola, N'Golo Kanté, Adrien Rabiot, Ibrahima Konaté, William Saliba, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Lucas Hernandez, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche.

Norway head coach Stale Solbakken has confirmed he will rest key players for tonight’s blockbuster Group I finale against France, citing the intense physical and mental strain of the tournament.

With a historic Round of 32 spot already locked in for the Scandinavians, their first World Cup appearance in 28 years, Solbakken is prioritizing long-term survival over a short-term group shootout. Speaking to the press, the Norway boss compared the tournament environment to a boiling pot:

"There is an argument that these players are used to playing every three days, but here there is so much pressure. It is like a pressure cooker. It is 100 percent certain that we will need to be rested for the round of 32 mentally and physically. It could be that we have to play 30 minutes of extra time or penalties."

When pressed about talisman Erling Haaland’s recent mind games where the striker claimed he "didn't care too much" about the France game, Solbakken tight-lippedly refused to comment.

While the changes might rob fans of a full-throttle Haaland vs. Mbappe showdown from the first whistle, it is a calculated, smart move by the Norwegian camp. Will a rotated Norway side still have enough fuel to trouble Les Bleus? We'll find out shortly!

In typical nonchalant fashion, Norway’s talisman Erling Haaland has laughed off suggestions that his side are genuine World Cup title contenders ahead of their massive clash against France.

Despite Norway riding an incredible 12-game winning streak in competitive matches, the 25-year-old superstar firmly positioned Les Bleus as the overwhelming favorites tonight and for the trophy itself. Speaking to Fox Television, Haaland shrugged off the pressure:

"To win the World Cup, absolutely not. They’re [France] probably going to win against us, they’re probably going to win the whole tournament. I couldn’t care too much [about playing France]."

While he is downplaying their silverware chances, Haaland admitted he is deeply savoring his maiden World Cup experience—both on and off the pitch. The striker revealed he has thoroughly enjoyed being able to go sightseeing in New York City in relative anonymity, a rare luxury for one of the planet's biggest athletes.

Don't let the mind games fool you, though. Once that whistle blows, the "swashbuckling" forward will be hunting for goals to test a very experienced French backline.

France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni revealed Les Bleus are on a deeply emotional mission to secure top spot in Group I for their absent manager, Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps flew back home on Thursday following the sad demise of his mother and will miss tonight's blockbuster clash against Norway in Foxborough. Assistant coach Guy Stéphan will lead the dugout in his place.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Real Madrid star extended condolences from the entire French squad, adding:

"It's a complicated time for everyone... but we have a mission and we want to make him proud."

Expect an extra layer of fire and motivation from the French side tonight as they step out onto the pitch playing for their coach.

They have been doing the Viking Row on New York City subways. In Times Square. On airport escalators. In the middle of Central Park. Norway are back at the World Cup - and they are having the time of their lives.

Playing in their fourth World Cup finals and first in 28 years, Norway have given a great account of themselves so far. They beat Iraq 4-1 in their opener and then held off Senegal to win 3-2 on Matchday 2, making it six points from six in their first World Cup campaign since 1998.

Haaland has now scored at least one goal in each of Norway's last dozen competitive matches. He has 59 goals in 52 games for his country, the best goal-per-game ratio by any player with more than 50 international goals in the last 100 years.

Solbakken's side dismantled Italy home and away in qualifying, won all eight of their matches, scored 37 goals and conceded only five. This is not a team here to make up the numbers.


The Vikings are alive, dangerous and absolutely loving this. Follow every twist on Norway vs France Live Score right here!

Erling Haaland. Kylian Mbappé. Four goals each. Two men. One group. No room for passengers.

Both players have scored four goals in their first two games at the World Cup. Mbappe has an incredible strike rate of 16 goals in 16 World Cup matches, while Haaland has plundered 59 international goals in just 52 appearances.

Haaland and Mbappe have faced each other four times at club level, with Mbappe finishing on the winning side three times. But this will be their first-ever meeting on the international stage.

This is also, brilliantly, a battle to chase down Lionel Messi, who leads the Golden Boot race with five goals and cement their legacies at this World Cup.

The stakes are enormous. The players are extraordinary. Stay locked in for every moment on Norway vs France Live Score and FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Score!

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Source: The Times of India