About Group I
Group I is headlined by two-time champions France, one of the competition's strongest favourites alongside Argentina. Senegal, Norway, and Iraq — returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1986 — join Les Bleus in what promises to be a compelling group stage.
Teams in Group I
🇫🇷France(UEFA)
Two-time World Cup champions (1998, 2018) and runners-up in 2022, France arrive as one of the tournament's two or three strongest favourites. Les Bleus possess extraordinary depth at every position and are the model of a complete international squad built for tournament football.
🇸🇳Senegal(CAF)
African champions and 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists, Senegal are one of the continent's most exciting teams. The Lions of Teranga combine physical power with technical quality, and their squad features players from some of Europe's top clubs who are experienced at the highest level.
🇮🇶Iraq(AFC)
Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since 1986, qualifying through the AFC in a remarkable achievement for Iraqi football. The Lions of Mesopotamia bring the passion of a footballing nation that has rebuilt its programme through years of domestic development.
🇳🇴Norway(UEFA)
Norway qualify for a rare World Cup appearance, powered by a talented generation of players including one of Europe's most prolific strikers. Confident and direct in their approach, Norway will aim to cause upsets in Group I and progress to the knockout rounds.
Group I Match Schedule
Matchday 1 · Tuesday, June 16, 2026
🇫🇷 France vs 🇸🇳 Senegal
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Matchday 1 · Tuesday, June 16, 2026
🇮🇶 Iraq vs 🇳🇴 Norway
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Matchday 2 · Tuesday, June 23, 2026
🇳🇴 Norway vs 🇸🇳 Senegal
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford
Matchday 2 · Monday, June 22, 2026
🇫🇷 France vs 🇮🇶 Iraq
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Matchday 3 · Friday, June 26, 2026
🇳🇴 Norway vs 🇫🇷 France
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Matchday 3 · Friday, June 26, 2026
🇸🇳 Senegal vs 🇮🇶 Iraq
BMO Field, Toronto
How Group I Qualification Works
The top two teams from Group I advance directly to the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage. The third-place team is not automatically eliminated — the 8 best third-place finishers from all 12 groups also advance, ranked by points, goal difference, and goals scored. The fourth-place team is eliminated from the tournament.
In the event of a tie on points, FIFA applies the following tiebreakers in order: goal difference, goals scored, head-to-head points, head-to-head goal difference, and head-to-head goals scored. This simulator applies all official FIFA tiebreaker rules automatically as you enter match scores.