Norway v France: Confirmed lineups — Haaland benched, Mbappé starts as France lead 3-1

Lineup shock before the Group I finale

Latest team news: Norway made a surprising set of changes for the 2026 World Cup Group I finale against France at Gillette Stadium on 26 June (kickoff 19:00 UTC). Manager Ståle Solbakken left global stars Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard on the bench in a rotated XI, while France — under assistant coach Guy Stéphan with Didier Deschamps away on compassionate leave — named a strong starting eleven that includes Kylian Mbappé. The match is in the second half and, according to supplied match data, France lead 3-1.

Why it matters

Both Norway and France had already secured qualification to the Round of 32 with six points from their opening matches, but the group winner is still up for grabs. The supplied report notes France need only a draw to clinch the top spot on goal difference, so the starting XIs and in-game approach have direct consequences for who finishes first in Group I and therefore likely determine the Round of 32 opponents for both sides.

Confirmed Norway and France XIs

The official sheets produced two contrasting approaches. Norway rotated heavily, with Solbakken making wholesale changes to his spine to preserve his marquee players for the knockout phase. Norway’s confirmed starting XI (from the report) was: Egil Selvik; Leo Østigård, Fredrik André Bjørkan, Henrik Falchener; Patrick Berg, Fredrik Aursnes, Kristian Thorstvedt, Thelo Aasgård, Andreas Schjelderup, Oscar Bobb; Jørgen Strand Larsen. Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard were named among the substitutes.

France, by contrast, named a strong line-up under Stéphan to try to secure top spot. The reported France starting XI was: Mike Maignan; Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, Theo Hernández, Maxence Lacroix; Manu Koné, Aurélien Tchouaméni (captain); Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, Désiré Doué. Didier Deschamps was not present in the dugout for this match.

Match context and tactical notes

The changes represent two clear priorities: Norway’s rotation to protect key players for the knockout rounds, and France’s decision to maintain a near-full-strength XI to lock down the group winner. The choice to bench Haaland and Ødegaard is a major tactical shock with the wider tournament in mind; France’s selection keeps its principal attacking threat, Mbappé, on the field from the start.

• Match: Norway v France, FIFA World Cup Group I, Gillette Stadium — kickoff 19:00 UTC (26 June).
• Match status (from match_data): second half; score Norway 1–3 France.
• Norway rotated their XI; Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard are named on the bench.
• France — with Guy Stéphan in charge while Didier Deschamps is away — named a strong starting eleven; Kylian Mbappé starts.
• Both teams had already qualified for the Round of 32, with France needing a draw to secure top spot on goal difference.

What it means and what happens next

With France leading 3-1 in the second half and a draw sufficient to finish top of Group I on goal difference, Les Bleus are well placed to secure first place. Norway’s rotation suggests Solbakken is prioritising player freshness and protection ahead of the knockout phase, even if it risks the top spot. The match result and the confirmed selections will shape both teams’ last-16 paths, but the precise next opponents depend on the final group standings across the tournament.