WC 2026 Group I Guide: Squads and Fixtures

The 2026 World Cup Group I stands out as one of the highest-profile groups of the tournament. The 2018 champion and 2022 finalist France comes to North America as one of the closest teams to winning the cup; it will be the last adventure in the World Cup manager's seat for Didier Deschamps. Senegal as Africa's strong representative is the second-place candidate of the group; they go to the tournament in the shadow of the case they took to the Court of Arbitration for Sport because CAF awarded the cup to Morocco after the AFCON 2025 final encounter against Morocco. Norway returned to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 — that is, 28 years later; Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard carry the team. Iraq, under Australian manager Graham Arnold, secured its second World Cup participation as the 48th and last team of the tournament by beating Bolivia 2-1 in Monterrey on March 31, 2026 — the first after 1986, after a 40-year gap. The group's matches will be played in the US cities of New Jersey (MetLife Stadium), Foxborough (Gillette Stadium), Philadelphia (Lincoln Financial Field) and the Canadian city of Toronto (BMO Field).

Team Profiles and Announced Squads

🇫🇷 France (Manager: Didier Deschamps)

Deschamps, who took office in 2012, goes to his last tournament at the end of his 14-year tenure; after his contract ends following the World Cup, former player Zinedine Zidane is expected to take over. France won the 2018 World Cup, lost the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties. Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé goes to his third World Cup adventure as team captain and is on track to break France's all-time scoring record. Current Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) shares the attack line. The surprise name is Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser; the young player who won Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year award was taken to the squad as third goalkeeper. Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) was not included in the squad due to his low form at Madrid; Randal Kolo Muani and injured Hugo Ekitike also remained outside. The squad includes 5 PSG, 7 Premier League, 8 Ligue 1 players.

Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (Milan), Brice Samba (Rennes), Robin Risser (Lens — Ligue 1 goalkeeper of the year, surprise pick)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders: N'Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG)

Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG — Ballon d'Or holder), Désiré Doué (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid — captain, third World Cup), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter)

🇸🇳 Senegal (Manager: Pape Thiaw)

Young manager Pape Thiaw had taken office in 2024 replacing Aliou Cissé. Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in extra time with the goal scored by Pape Gueye in the AFCON 2025 final but after Senegalese players briefly left the field at the end of extra time CAF Appeal Board ruled the match 3-0 forfeit in favor of Morocco in March; Senegal took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Senegal, which completed the CAF qualifying process unbeaten in its group in first place, comes to the World Cup. Sadio Mané (Al Nassr) is 34 years old and announced that he will leave the national team after this World Cup; the player who recorded 55 international goals in 127 international matches is Senegal's all-time top scorer. Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal) carries the captain's armband with 103 international matches. Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton) is the all-time most-capped player with 130 international matches. Moustapha Mbow and Ilay Camara, who were in the preliminary squad after the qualifying process, could not find a place in the final 26-man list.

Goalkeepers: Édouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Mory Diaw (Le Havre), Yehvann Diouf (Nice)

Defenders: Krépin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal — captain, 103 caps), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), Moussa Niakhaté (Lyon), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Ismaïl Jakobs (Galatasaray)

Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton — 130 caps, all-time most capped), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pathé Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Bara Ndiaye (Bayern Munich — 18)

Forwards: Sadio Mané (Al Nassr — 34, 55 international goals, all-time top scorer), Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG — 18), Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Chérif Ndiaye (Samsunspor)

🇳🇴 Norway (Manager: Ståle Solbakken)

56-year-old Solbakken had been a player of the Norwegian national team at the 1998 World Cup, took office as manager in 2020. Norway completed the qualifying group with 8 wins in 8 matches unbeaten; scored 37 goals, conceded only 5. Erling Haaland (Manchester City) recorded 16 goals in 8 matches — qualifying group top scorer. In the critical match played against Italy at San Siro, which Norway won 4-1, Haaland found two goals in the last minutes. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) is the team's captain; won the Premier League title this season. This is Norway's fourth in history and first World Cup participation since 1998 — the 28-year gap ended. Norway's best performance had been advancing to the round of 16 in France in 1998. Solbakken announced that he will leave his post after this tournament.

Goalkeepers: Ørjan Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (HSV)

Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Møller Wolfe (Wolves), Fredrik Bjørkan (Bodø/Glimt), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Torbjørn Heggem (Bologna), Leo Skiri Østigård (Genoa), Sondre Langås (Derby County), Henrik Falchener (Viking)

Midfielders: Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal — captain, Premier League champion), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica), Patrick Berg (Bodø/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers)

Forwards: Erling Haaland (Manchester City — 16 goals in qualifying), Alexander Sørloth (Atlético Madrid), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Jørgen Strand Larsen (Wolves), Oscar Bobb (Manchester City)

🇮🇶 Iraq (Manager: Graham Arnold)

Australian manager Graham Arnold, who managed the Australian national team for two terms, took over Iraq at the last stage of the qualifying process — about 18 months after his resignation from Australia. The Lions of Mesopotamia stayed in the AFC third round group and dropped to the fourth round, then went to the intercontinental qualifier. In the final match played against Bolivia at Monterrey BBVA Stadium on March 31, 2026, Iraq, which went ahead with Ali Al-Hamadi's header goal in the 18th minute from Amir Al-Ammari's corner, came out 2-1 winner after Moises Paniagua's goal in the 38th minute thanks to Aymen Hussein's goal in the 53rd minute from Marko Farji's cross. Iraq pocketed its ticket as the 48th and last team to participate in the World Cup. Aymen Hussein completed the qualifying process as the team's top scorer with 8 goals; the player with more than 90 international matches continues to lead the attack line. Iraq goes to its second in history and first World Cup adventure since 1986 Mexico. Dundee defender Dario Naamo was not included in the squad.

Goalkeepers: Hussein Ali, Manaf Younis, Zaid Tahseen

Defenders: Rebin Sulaka, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski, Ahmed Yahya, Zaid Ismail, Frans Putros, Mustafa Saadoon

Midfielders: Amir Al-Ammari, Kevin Yakob, Zidane Iqbal, Aimar Sher, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ahmed Qasim

Forwards: Aymen Hussein (qualifying top scorer, 8 goals), Ali Al-Hamadi (scorer of first goal in Bolivia match), Ali Jassim, Mohanad Ali (70 caps/27 goals), Marko Farji, Youssef Amyn, Ali Yousef

Group I Fixtures (Local Time)

Matchday 1 — Tuesday, June 16, 2026

France vs Senegal | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New Jersey) | 15:00 (local/ET)

Iraq vs Norway | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Massachusetts) | 18:00 (local/ET)

Matchday 2 — Monday, June 22, 2026

France vs Iraq | Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia | 17:00 (local/ET)

Norway vs Senegal | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford (New Jersey) | 20:00 (local/ET)

Matchday 3 — Friday, June 26, 2026

Norway vs France | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Massachusetts) | 15:00 (local/ET)

Senegal vs Iraq | BMO Field, Toronto (Canada) | 15:00 (local/ET)

The group winner and runner-up will advance directly to the round of 32, while the third-placed team will be evaluated based on the performance of the third-place teams of other groups. The 8 best third-place teams will also join the round of 32.

Europe and Turkey Times

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

France - Senegal: 21:00 CEST | 22:00 TST

Iraq - Norway: 00:00 CEST (June 17) | 01:00 TST (June 17)

Monday, June 22, 2026

France - Iraq: 23:00 CEST | 00:00 TST (June 23)

Norway - Senegal: 02:00 CEST (June 23) | 03:00 TST (June 23)

Friday, June 26, 2026

Norway - France: 21:00 CEST | 22:00 TST

Senegal - Iraq: 21:00 CEST | 22:00 TST

Image: bbc.com