France's Solid Seeding
In Group I of the 2026 World Cup, France, currently ranked 2nd in the FIFA world rankings, is undoubtedly the group's super seed. France has been in hot form recently with an upward trend, winning four of their last five friendly matches, including a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland, a 3-1 win against Colombia, a 2-1 defeat of Brazil, and a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan, with their only loss being a 1-2 defeat to Ivory Coast. With their formidable overall strength, France is considered the clear favorite to advance from the group.
Norway and Senegal Vie for Second Place
The other two contenders in the group are closely matched in strength. Senegal, ranked 18th, has shown steady form recently; while they secured a 3-1 win over Gambia and a 2-0 victory against Peru, they also suffered a 0-3 loss to Morocco and a 2-3 defeat to the United States. In contrast, 31st-ranked Norway, currently on an upward trajectory, has demonstrated a strong ability to disrupt, having secured a 4-1 thrashing of Italy and a 3-1 win over Sweden. Iraq, ranked 58th, is the lowest-ranked team in the group; while they recently held Spain to a 1-1 draw, they also suffered losses of 0-2 to Algeria and 0-1 to Jordan, leaving their qualification prospects looking grim.
Opening Round Showdowns Are Key
The group's journey will begin on June 16, 2026. At 19:00 Beijing Time on June 16, the opening match between France and Senegal will directly test the mettle of the African powerhouse. Subsequently, at 22:00, Iraq will face Norway. The direct clash between Norway and Senegal at 0:00 on June 23, and the final round showdown between Norway and France at 19:00 on June 26, will be the decisive battles that determine the final qualification spots for the group.