When the World Cup group stage games were revealed, many pegged France facing Norway at Boston Stadium as one of the premier contests on the schedule.
Rarely can a match meet that level of hype. But given how France and Norway have performed thus far in the World Cup and the star power each side possesses, they have exceeded it.
The highly anticipated showdown set to take place Friday (3 p.m.) in Foxboro features nearly everything fans would want from a group stage game.
France looks every bit the favorite it came into the tournament as with two stellar showings. They trounced Senegal and Iraq, while Norway, which had plenty of buzz as a team to watch entering this global event after blitzing their way to an undefeated 8-0 mark in qualifying matchups, dispatched those same two opponents rather easily as well.
That means the matchup between Les Bleus and the Røde, Hvite, Blå will determine the the winner of Group I, a significant feat that helps create an easier path — even if it’s slight — to the final. A tie does Norway no good, as France would take the group on goal differential.
France and Norway also have two of the brightest stars on the planet showcasing their immense talent for their respective sides. Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland have been nothing short of brilliant in this World Cup, and it is expected they’ll be in top form again at the home of the Patriots and Revolution.
Mbappé scored two goals each in France’s two matches and Haaland has kept pace, scoring four goals total — like Mbappe, two in each game. Mbappé has 16 goals in his career at the World Cup and would be on the verge of owning the all-time record at the prestigious tournament if it wasn’t for some guy named Lionel Messi.
Haaland, who is a year younger than Mbappé at 26, doesn’t have the same World Cup pedigree as Mbappé since this is Norway’s first appearance at the tournament since 1998 when his father suited up for the Norwegians, but Haaland certainly has made quite the first impression. And it doesn’t come as a surprise since the 6-foot-5 striker is one of the world’s best finishers, whether that’s with his head or feet.
Norway’s Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring their third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
The supporting cast for each side is full of weapons, too. Ousmane Dembélé, who scored for France in their 3-0 win over Iraq, won the Ballon d’Or in September and Désiré Doué along with Bradley Barcola add to a fierce French attack. Throw in a top center back in William Saliba and it is just an embarrassment of riches for France.
Norway doesn’t have the same type of depth as France, but have a couple of key playmakers to back Haaland. Attacking midfielder Martin Ødegaard can get one of the tournament’s top attacks clicking into high gear while Alexander Sørloth is a proven goal-scorer next to Haaland.
It certainly isn’t lost on Haaland what Norway is up against in France, a squad which looks poised to make their third straight World Cup final. Haaland’s comments following Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal raised eyebrows when he basically conceded the upcoming game, and the tournament, to France.
“Honestly I don’t care too much (about the France game),” Haaland told Fox Sports. “We’re through, we managed to get through, which is incredible. So, I couldn’t care too much about that game now. They’re probably going to win against us, they’re probably going to win the whole tournament.”
It’s unclear if Haaland was trying to play coy with his remarks and try to make France overconfident going into the game. Oddsmakers agree with Haaland, though, with Norway an underdog at +400 to win, according to DraftKings Sportsbook.
France will have some unexpected motivation too as it will be without head coach Didier Deschamps against Norway. Deschamps left the team this week after the death of his mother and to attend her funeral. Assistant coach Guy Stéphan will assume Deschamps’ sideline duties for the contest.
This is the last group stage game set to be held in Foxboro — Norway already won at the venue earlier in the tournament with a 4-1 romp over Iraq while France played an international friendly against Brazil at the stadium in March.
Boston Stadium will host two more games after this, a Round of 32 affair featuring Germany and a quarterfinal matchup.
But even those two games might pale in comparison to the France-Norway matchup.