The 2026 World Cup group stage is divided into 12 groups of four teams. Group I features France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway, according to ESPN.
France enter Group I as the highest-ranked side, listed 3rd by FIFA. The nation has 17 World Cup appearances (1930, 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1966, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) and eight consecutive tournaments from 1998–2026. France’s best finishes are championships in 1998 and 2018; their all-time World Cup record is 39 wins, 14 draws and 20 losses. Just Fontaine is listed as France’s top scorer with 13 goals, all scored in the 1958 tournament. Olivier Giroud is the nation’s oldest World Cup scorer (36 years, 71 days in 2022 vs. England) and Kylian Mbappé its youngest (19 years, 183 days in 2018 vs. Peru). According to ESPN, France are seeking to become the third men’s team to reach the World Cup final in three consecutive tournaments.
Senegal, nicknamed the Lions of Teranga, are ranked 15th by FIFA and have made four World Cup appearances (2002, 2018, 2022, 2026), including three straight from 2018–2026. Their best finish is the 2002 quarterfinals and their tournament record stands at 5-3-4. Bouda Diop is Senegal’s top scorer with three goals, all from 2002. The oldest Senegal scorer listed is Kalidou Koulibaly (31 years, 162 days in 2022 vs. Ecuador) and the youngest is Moussa Wagué (19 years, 263 days in 2018 vs. Japan). ESPN notes Senegal became the first team to beat the reigning World Cup champion (France) in their first-ever World Cup match in 2002.
Norway are shown as 31st in the FIFA rankings and have four appearances (1938, 1994, 1998, 2026) with a best finish of the 1998 round of 16. Their World Cup record is 2-3-3. Kjetil Rekdal is Norway’s top scorer with two goals; he is also the oldest Norwegian scorer listed (29 years, 229 days in 1998 vs. Brazil), while Tore Andre Flo is the youngest scorer listed (25 years, eight days in 1998 vs. Brazil). Norway was one of four teams to complete qualifying with a perfect record, led by Erling Haaland’s 16 goals, according to ESPN.
Iraq, nicknamed the Lions of Mesopotamia, are ranked 57th by FIFA and return for their second World Cup after 1986. Iraq’s appearances are 1986 and 2026, with a best finish of the group stage in 1986 and an all-time World Cup record of 0-0-3. Ahmed Radhi is listed as Iraq’s only World Cup scorer (one goal in 1986 vs. Belgium); he is recorded as both the oldest and youngest Iraqi scorer at 22 years, 79 days. ESPN notes Graham Arnold, after 72 international games with Australia, is poised to become one of the few coaches to take two different nations from the same confederation to a World Cup.
