Group I World Cup 2026: Final Standings, Results & Who Qualified
Group I World Cup 2026 is settled. 2018 champions France won the group with a perfect record, Norway took second, and both reached the round of 32. Senegal thrashed Iraq to finish third with a strong best third-placed case, while Iraq went out. The group ran June 16 to 26.
Here is the bottom line. France won all three games to top the group on nine points. Norway finished second on six despite a 4-1 loss to France on the final day. Senegal beat Iraq 5-0 to climb to third on goal difference, and Iraq lost all three and ended bottom.
Below you get the full schedule with ET kickoff times, live standings, and results. You also see how to watch every Group I game in the US.
Group I World Cup 2026 Teams
Four teams made up Group I, and it was a tough one. France brought one of the deepest squads at the tournament. Senegal and Norway carried real quality, and Iraq returned after a long absence. The FIFA rankings below show the final list before the tournament.
| Team | Confederation | FIFA Ranking | How They Qualified | Best World Cup Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇫🇷 France | UEFA | 3 | European qualifying | Champions (1998, 2018) |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | CAF | 15 | African qualifying | Quarter-finals (2002) |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | UEFA | 31 | European qualifying | Round of 16 (1998) |
| 🇮🇶 Iraq | AFC | 57 | Inter-confederation play-off | Group stage |
Tap any team name above for its full and final 26-man squad.
Group I World Cup 2026 Schedule
Group I played six matches over two weeks. France faced Senegal in the opener, and the final two matches kicked off together on June 26. All times below are Eastern Time (ET).
| Date | Match | Kickoff (ET) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, June 16 | France 3-1 Senegal | 3:00 p.m. | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Tue, June 16 | Iraq 1-4 Norway | 6:00 p.m. | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Mon, June 22 | France 3-0 Iraq | 5:00 p.m. | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia |
| Mon, June 22 | Norway 3-2 Senegal | 8:00 p.m. | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford |
| Fri, June 26 | Norway 1-4 France | 3:00 p.m. | Gillette Stadium, Boston |
| Fri, June 26 | Senegal 5-0 Iraq | 3:00 p.m. | BMO Field, Toronto |
Group I played mostly in the US Northeast, across New Jersey, Boston, and Philadelphia. The one match outside the US was Senegal vs Iraq in Toronto, Canada, on the final day.
World Cup 2026 Group I Standings
The standings below update live as results come in. The top two teams advanced, and the best third-placed teams can also reach the round of 32. Final standings: France won Group I with a perfect nine points. Norway finished second on six. Senegal came third on three points and, after a 5-0 win, hold a strong best-third position, while Iraq ended bottom on zero.
FIFA changed the tiebreakers for 2026. If teams finish level on points, head-to-head results now come first. The order is head-to-head points, then head-to-head goal difference, then head-to-head goals scored. If teams are still level, FIFA uses overall goal difference, then overall goals scored, then the fair play record, and finally the FIFA ranking.
Group I Results
France beat Senegal 3-1 at MetLife Stadium. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and became France’s all-time leading scorer, with Bradley Barcola also netting. In Boston, Norway thrashed Iraq 4-1 as Erling Haaland scored twice on his World Cup debut.
On June 22, France and Norway booked their places in the round of 32. France beat Iraq 3-0, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé also on target. Norway edged Senegal 3-2 in a thriller, Erling Haaland scoring twice and Ismaïla Sarr replying for Senegal.
On June 26, France completed a perfect group stage with a 4-1 win over a much-changed Norway, Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick. Norway still finished second. Senegal hammered ten-man Iraq 5-0 in Toronto, Pape Gueye scoring twice, to become the first African side to score five in a World Cup match and revive their hopes of a best third-placed spot. Iraq finished bottom and went out.
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France
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Norway
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Senegal
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Iraq
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| 1 | France | 3–1 | 3–0 | |||
| 2 | Norway | 1–4 | 3–2 | |||
| 3 | Senegal | 5–0 | ||||
| 4 | Iraq | 1–4 |
How to Watch Group I World Cup 2026 in the US
You had clear options in both English and Spanish. In English, games aired on FOX and FS1, with select matches streaming free on the Tubi app. In Spanish, they aired on Telemundo and Universo, or streamed on Peacock.
The group stage is done. France and Norway reached the round of 32, with Senegal in strong contention for a best third-placed place. Check out the World Cup 2026 TV Schedule guide for knockout dates.
Who Won Group I?
France won Group I with a perfect nine points. The 2018 champions won all three games under Didier Deschamps, with Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé in superb form, and reached the round of 32 as one of the tournament favorites.
Norway took second on six points, Erling Haaland having fired them through before a much-changed side lost to France. Senegal finished third after a 5-0 rout of Iraq and hold a strong best third-placed position. Iraq lost all three games and went out.
FAQ About Group I World Cup 2026
Who won Group I at the 2026 World Cup?
France won Group I with a perfect nine points, winning all three games. Norway finished second on six and also reached the round of 32. Senegal came third on three points after a 5-0 win over Iraq and hold a strong best third-placed position, while Iraq finished bottom on zero.
Is 2026 Norway’s first World Cup in a long time?
Yes. Norway returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1998, ending a 28-year absence. It was also Erling Haaland’s first World Cup, and he scored in his first two games to help send Norway into the round of 32 as Group I runners-up.
Have France and Senegal met at a World Cup before?
Yes. Senegal beat France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup, one of the biggest upsets the tournament has seen. The two met again on June 16, 2026 to start Group I, and this time France won 3-1 behind a Kylian Mbappé double.
How did Iraq do at the 2026 World Cup?
Iraq came through the inter-confederation play-off, beating Bolivia to claim one of the final places. The 2026 finals were Iraq’s first World Cup since 1986 and only their second appearance ever. They lost all three Group I games, to Norway, France, and Senegal, and finished bottom.
Is 2026 Didier Deschamps’ last tournament with France?
Yes. Didier Deschamps has confirmed that 2026 will be his final tournament as France coach. He has led them since 2012, winning the 2018 World Cup and reaching the 2022 final. France won Group I with a perfect record and chase a third title.
What channel is Group I on in the US?
In English, Group I matches air on FOX and FS1. Select games stream free on Tubi. In Spanish, watch on Telemundo and Universo, or stream the Spanish feed on Peacock.
Group I World Cup 2026 ended with France perfect on top and Norway alongside them in the round of 32, Senegal in strong contention for a best third-placed spot, and Iraq out. Bookmark this page for live standings and results, and follow the qualifiers in the knockouts on FOX, FS1, Telemundo, and Peacock.
