World Cup Group I includes 2022 runners-up France, Senegal, Iraq and Erling Haalands Norway; matches to be played in US cities New Jersey, Philadelphia and Massachusetts, plus Canadas Toronto World Cup Group I features 2022 runners-up France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway.
Group I Draw: France, Senegal, Iraq, and Norway Face Off
Tuesday June 16: France vs Senegal, kick-off 8pm - New Jersey, USA Monday June 22: France vs Iraq, kick-off 10pm - Philadelphia, USA Friday June 26: Norway vs France, kick-off 8pm - Massachusetts, USA
Goalkeepers: Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Robin Risser (Lens), Brice Samba (Rennes). Defenders: Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (Al Hilal), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich). Midfielders: N'Golo Kante (Fenerbahce), Manu Kone (AS Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG).
Forwards: Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Ousmane Dembele (PSG), Desire Doue (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan). Tuesday June 23: Norway vs Senegal, kick-off 1am - Toronto, Canada
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Haaland's Norway and Senegal's Speed: Group I Dangers
Friday June 26: Senegal vs Iraq, kick-off 8pm - Toronto, Canada Goalkeepers: Edouard Mendy (Al Ahli), Mory Diaw (Le Havre AC), Yehvann Diouf (Nice). Defenders: Krepin Diatta (Monaco), Antoine Mendy (Nice), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham), Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea), Moussa Niakhate (Lyon), Moustapha Mbow (Paris FC), Abdoulaye Seck (Maccabi Haifa), Ismail Jakobs (Galatasaray), Ilay Camara (Anderlecht).
Midfielders: Idrissa Gana Gueye (Everton), Pape Gueye (Villarreal), Lamine Camara (Monaco), Habib Diarra (Sunderland), Pathe Ciss (Rayo Vallecano), Pape Matar Sarr (Tottenham), Bara Sapoko Ndiaye (Bayern Munich). Forwards: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr), Ismaila Sarr (Crystal Palace), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Assane Diao (Como), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea), Bamba Dieng (Lorient), Cherif Ndiaye (Samsunspor). Tuesday June 16: Iraq vs Norway, kick-off 11pm - Massachusetts, USA
Goalkeepers: Fahad Talib (Al Talaba), Jalal Hassan (Al Zawraa), Ahmed Basil (Al Shorta). Defenders: Hussein Ali (Pogon Szczecin), Manaf Younis, Ahmed Yahya, Mustafa Saadoon (Al Shorta), Zaid Tahseen (Pakhtakor), Rebin Sulaka (Port), Akam Hashim (Al Zawraa), Merchas Doski (Viktoria Plzen), Zaid Ismail (Al Talaba), Frans Putros (Persib).
Group I Qualification Scenarios and Third-Place Permutations
Midfielders: Amir Al-Ammari (Cracovia), Kevin Yakob (Aarhus GF), Zidane Iqbal (Utrecht), Aimar Sher (Sarpsborg), Ibrahim Bayesh (Al Dhafra), Ahmed Qasem (Nashville SC), Youssef Amyn (AEK Larnaca), Marko Farji (Venezia). Forwards: Ali Jassim (Al Najma), Ali Al-Hamadi (Ipswich), Ali Yousef (Al Talaba), Aymen Hussein (Al Karma), Mohanad Ali (Dibba). Goalkeepers: Orjan Haskjold Nyland (Sevilla), Egil Selvik (Watford), Sander Tangvik (Hamburger).
Defenders: Julian Ryerson (Borussia Dortmund), Marcus Holmgren Pedersen (Torino), David Moller Wolfe (Wolves), Fredrik Bjorkan (Bodo/Glimt), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford), Torbjorn Heggem (Bologna), Leo Skiri Ostigard (Genoa), Sondre Langas (Derby), Henrik Falchener (Viking). Midfielders: Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Sander Berge (Fulham), Fredrik Aursnes (Benfica), Patrick Berg (Bodo/Glimt), Kristian Thorstvedt (Sassuolo), Morten Thorsby (Cremonese), Thelo Aasgaard (Rangers).
Forwards: Erling Haaland (Man City), Alexander Sorloth (Atletico Madrid), Jorgen Strand Larsen (Crystal Palace), Antonio Nusa (RB Leipzig), Oscar Bobb (Fulham), Andreas Schjelderup (Benfica), Jens Petter Hauge (Bodo/Glimt).
Group I Prediction and Qualification Outlook
France look like the safest group-winner pick because of squad depth, tournament experience, and the ability to control the strongest spells of a match. Norway are the clearest threat if they protect the middle of the pitch and take points from the direct matchup.
| Position | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | France |
| 2 | Senegal |
| 3 | Iraq |
| 4 | Norway |
The dark horse is Iraq, especially if their transition play creates early goals. The key match is France vs Norway, because it should decide first place and the cleaner knockout route.