XIs out atop Group I: Norway without Haaland

In the final Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Norway and France face off for top spot at the stadium in Foxborough, and the starting XIs for both teams have been announced. For the two sides, who secured the round of 32 by winning their first two matches, this game is a battle to finish top of the group. While a draw is enough for France for top spot thanks to their goal-difference advantage, Norway are chasing a win to top the group.

The biggest surprise of the match came in Norway's XI. Head coach Ståle Solbakken made wholesale rotation in a side that had already secured qualification, benching star striker Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard. Resting Haaland, who leads the Golden Boot race with four goals in the first two games, significantly reduces Norway's attacking power. In a 4-3-3, names like Andreas Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb feature up front, with Kristian Thorstvedt taking on the striker role.

For France, head coach Didier Deschamps left the squad following the passing of his mother, and assistant Guy Stéphan took over for this match. Per the French Football Federation, Deschamps returned to France to attend his mother's funeral. In a 4-2-3-1, Stéphan starts star player Kylian Mbappe at the tip of the attack, with an effective forward trio of Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué behind him. Mike Maignan is in goal, with Dayot Upamecano and Maxence Lacroix at the heart of defense.

The two teams clearly approach this match differently. Norway, who have secured qualification, prefer to rest their stars and bank energy for the knockout phase, while France want to take top spot with their strong squad. Norway's failure to keep a clean sheet in either match stands out as a weakness against the attacking power of Mbappe and France. In the absence of Haaland and Ødegaard, it looks hard for the Norway defense to hold out for long under French pressure. This match in Foxborough stands out as one where France's squad depth could prove its advantage.

Starting XIs
Norway (4-3-3): Selvik; Aursnes, Falchener, Ostigard, Bjorkan; Berg, Larsen, Aasgaard; Thorstvedt, Schjelderup, Bobb
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Lacroix, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe

Image: Yahoo Sports