France 4-1 Norway: Match Report, Highlights, Stats & Dembélé Hat-Trick | FIFA World Cup 2026
France vs Norway Match Report – FIFA World Cup 2026
France delivered a dominant performance to defeat Norway 4-1 in their final Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, June 26, 2026, at Boston Stadium.
The victory secured France's place at the top of Group I with an unbeaten record, while Norway finished as runners-up and also booked their place in the Round of 32 despite the heavy defeat.
The match belonged to Ousmane Dembélé, who produced a sensational first-half hat-trick to put France firmly in control before youngster Désiré Doué added a late fourth goal.
France vs Norway Score
Full-Time Score
France 4-1 Norway
Goalscorers
France
Ousmane Dembélé (7')
Ousmane Dembélé (20')
Ousmane Dembélé (32')
Désiré Doué (90+4')
Norway
Thelo Aasgaard (21')
France vs Norway Match Highlights
France made the perfect start by taking the lead through Ousmane Dembélé in the seventh minute. The Paris Saint-Germain winger doubled the advantage just 13 minutes later before completing a remarkable hat-trick in the 32nd minute, putting the world champions in complete control.
Norway briefly threatened a comeback when Thelo Aasgaard pulled a goal back in the 21st minute, but France continued to dominate possession and create chances throughout the match.
Early in the second half, Norway were handed a golden opportunity to reduce the deficit after winning a penalty. However, goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a superb save to deny Jørgen Strand Larsen, preserving France's comfortable lead.
With the result already secure, France made several substitutions to rest key players before Désiré Doué capped off an outstanding team performance with a stoppage-time goal.
France vs Norway Match Statistics
| Statistic | Norway | France |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 4 |
| Possession | 43% | 57% |
| Shots | 10 | 19 |
| Shots on Target | 5 | 10 |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.29 | 1.17 |
| Passing Accuracy | 83% | 90% |
| Accurate Passes | 332 | 485 |
| Corners | 4 | 5 |
| Saves | 4 | 3 |
| Fouls | 9 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 1 |
Key Talking Points
Ousmane Dembélé scored a stunning first-half hat-trick in just 25 minutes.
Kylian Mbappé played a creative role and registered two assists.
Mike Maignan made a crucial penalty save early in the second half to deny Norway any chance of a comeback.
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken rested Erling Haaland on the bench and made 10 changes with the knockout stage in mind.
France finished top of Group I with another convincing victory.
Historic Records
Dembélé's outstanding display also earned him a place in the World Cup record books.
His hat-trick was the second-fastest in FIFA World Cup history, completed by the 32nd minute.
He became the first player since 1994 to score a first-half hat-trick in a World Cup match.
It was Ousmane Dembélé's first senior international hat-trick for France.
What's Next For Both Team?
France will carry excellent momentum into the knockout stage after topping Group I. They are scheduled to face a third-placed qualifier in the Round of 32 in New Jersey.
Norway also progress to the knockout stage and will face Ivory Coast on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, in Dallas, where they will aim to bounce back from this defeat.
Final Thoughts
France once again demonstrated why they are among the favourites to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup trophy. Ousmane Dembélé's clinical finishing, Kylian Mbappé's creativity, and Mike Maignan's decisive penalty save highlighted a complete team performance.
Although Norway suffered a heavy defeat, qualification for the Round of 32 keeps their World Cup hopes alive. France, meanwhile, head into the knockout rounds full of confidence and momentum after another impressive display.
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