World Cup 2026 Group I: France · Senegal · Norway · Iraq

Group I is the one that should terrify France. The defending 2018 champions and 2022 runners-up have the most intimidating top line in world football — Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Warren Zaïre-Emery — and they have been drawn with two of Africa's best and a Haaland-led Norway on the biggest stage for the first time.

Senegal is the draw's storyline. The Teranga Lions are the only African side to have reached a World Cup quarter-final this century (2002) and they arrive with a squad that peaked in Qatar and has not fallen off. Sadio Mané is the talisman; Pape Matar Sarr has become the midfield metronome. Their 4-4-2 is built for exactly this kind of group.

Norway are the most anticipated first-timers of the 2020s. Erling Haaland leads the line; Martin Ødegaard captains the midfield; and Ståle Solbakken has finally built a back line that holds up against elite attacks. This is a debut nation with a knockout-stage ceiling. Iraq, meanwhile, qualified through one of the most competitive AFC playoff runs in decades — physical, disciplined, and exactly the kind of fourth seed who might steal a point from Norway if France or Senegal takes them lightly.