Dembele hat-trick sends France through as Group I winners

Ousmane Dembele scored a first-half hat-trick as France beat Norway 4-1 on Friday, securing first place in Group I at the 2026 World Cup. Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters reported that the result sent France into the round of 32 with a perfect nine points from three matches.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. According to Al Jazeera, only Austria’s Erich Probst has completed a World Cup hat-trick earlier in a match, doing so inside 24 minutes against Czechoslovakia in 1954.

Thelo Aasgaard scored for Norway between Dembele’s second and third goals, but France restored control before halftime. Desire Doue added France’s fourth in stoppage time, giving the team 10 goals across its three group games, Al Jazeera reported.

France played without coach Didier Deschamps, who had returned home to attend his mother’s funeral, according to Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters. Deschamps, who is due to leave the France job after the tournament following 14 years in charge, was expected back with the squad on Saturday.

Assistant coach Guy Stephan said France’s thoughts were with Deschamps and that the staff expected his return. Speaking after the match, Stephan said France had done what was required, while adding that there were phases the team still needed to improve.

Norway rest key players

Norway had already secured qualification before kickoff after wins over Iraq and Senegal, and coach Stale Solbakken changed 10 players from the lineup that beat Senegal 3-2, Al Jazeera reported. Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Alexander Sorloth were among those rested, while Fredrik Aursnes kept his place.

Norway finished second in the group on six points and will play Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday, according to Al Jazeera. France will remain in the northeastern United States and face a third-place finisher at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on the same day.

Kylian Mbappe started for France and won his 101st cap, Al Jazeera reported. He set up Dembele’s opening goal, releasing him down the right before Dembele cut inside and scored past goalkeeper Egil Selvik.

Dembele’s second came from another move in from the right, this time with a low left-footed finish into the far corner. Aasgaard replied immediately after the restart with a low shot past Mike Maignan, but Dembele completed his hat-trick from inside the area with another left-footed strike into the same bottom corner.

Norway had a chance to reduce the deficit early in the second half after Theo Hernandez fouled Oscar Bobb in the penalty area. Jorgen Strand Larsen took the spot kick, but Maignan saved, according to Al Jazeera.

Dembele now has four goals in the tournament after also scoring in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq. He said after the match that France had wanted to win the group and would keep its focus because tougher games were ahead.

Senegal boost third-place hopes

In the other Group I finale, Senegal beat 10-man Iraq 5-0, Al Jazeera, AFP and Reuters reported. Habib Diarra scored in the fourth minute, Ismaila Sarr added his third goal of the tournament, Pape Gueye scored twice from distance after coming on, and Iliman Ndiaye completed the win in the 82nd minute.

Senegal finished third in the group and remained in contention for one of the eight third-place berths in the round of 32, with a plus-two goal difference, according to Al Jazeera. Iraq were eliminated from their second World Cup appearance and their first since 1986.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.