Group I is one of the most anticipated groups ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq will all be in action.
Group 1 of the 2026 World Cup features some of the greatest stars in football. The group is made up of teams such as France, Senegal, Iraq, and Norway. These teams have some of the most elite talents in football, with France boasting quite a large number.
Coming into the FIFA World Cup, these players are expected to lead their countries to glory, and in this article, we’ll highlight how well each team would do in the group.
France
France are favorites to win the World Cup, and there is no surprise as to why. They won the World Cup in 2018, changed some of the players in 2022, and reached the final. In the final, they pulled off an insane comeback, with Mbappe scoring a hat-trick.
They were indeed unlucky to win it, and off the back of these records, they are seen as favourites once again in 2026.
France also has an elite level of talent at their disposal. In midfield and especially attack, they looked unstoppable. In March, they beat Brazil 2-1 in a friendly, showing their superiority against another powerhouse.
In this World Cup, they are expected to dominate. Olise, Mbappe, Doue, and Dembele are among the top 10 best attackers this season, and they can play anywhere across the frontline, making them a threat to even the most stubborn defence.
France will finish top of group I.
Senegal
Senegal arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as AFCON Champions. Although their AFCON title has been stripped from them, they are still with the trophy and could decide not to return it pending the decision from CAS.
The aftermath of the AFCON final saw their coach, Pape Thiaw, get a suspension, but he will be available to coach them at the World Cup.
The Teranga Lions of Senegal could cause an upset in group I, but they still remain strong favourites to finish second. Their main strength is in attack, with the relentless Sadio Mane leading the team alongside Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, and Nicolas Jackson.
Idrissa Gueye is still a workhorse in midfield while Koulibaly would partner with Niakhate in defence, shielding former Chelsea keeper, Eduo Mendy.
Senegal’s 3-2 loss to USA in their latest friendly shows how strong and relentless their attack is while spotlighting the loopholes in their defence. If they are to finish second in this group, the defence must sort itself out.
Norway
Erling Haaland will lead Norway to their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Their World Cup qualifying run is quite historic as they finished top of the group, won all their eight qualifying games, scored 37 goals, and conceded only five.
They also beat Italy 4-1 to add a little spice to the story, making it impossible for Italy to qualify for the World Cup.
However, Group I of the 2026 World Cup is a stark contrast to their qualifying group. While Haaland, Odegaard, Sorloth, and Nusa had impressive seasons, they will face much tougher opponents in France and Senegal.
For Norway to succeed or seal a second-placed finish, they will need Haaland at his very best, while Odegaard will need to shake off the caution that has characterized his game all season.
Should all their stars turn up, even if its just for two games, Norway has a real chance of finishing second, ahead of Senegal.
Iraq
Iraq’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is quite the story. The conflicts in the Middle East almost made it impossible for them to continue their qualifying campaigns, but they kept their focus, and on the final day, they beat Bolivia 2-1 to secure their spot at the World Cup.
This is their first World Cup appearance since 1986, but the hype from making it to the World Cup could die a natural death given their opponents in group I.
Most of their players are either based in the Iraqi league or the Gulf region, with only Zidane Iqbal and Al Hamadi playing in Europe.
This gulf in class in terms of league football could be the deciding factor when they come up against their opponents. Iraq could genuinely leave group I without any points.
