Group I is widely regarded as one of the toughest groups at the FIFA World Cup 2026. France arrive as one of the favourites to lift the trophy, while Senegal seek to relive the glory of their famous victory over Les Bleus in 2002. Norway return to the World Cup for the first time since 1998 with Erling Haaland leading an exciting generation, while Iraq make their long-awaited return to the global stage after a 40-year absence.

With Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Sadio Mane all sharing the same group, Group I promises to deliver some of the tournament’s most anticipated matches.

FIFA WC 2026 Group I: Teams

• 
  France
• 
  Senegal
• 
  Iraq
• 
  Norway

FIFA WC 2026 Group I: Team analysis

France

France enter the tournament as one of the leading contenders for the title and the highest-ranked team in the group. Didier Deschamps will oversee his final World Cup campaign, hoping to add another trophy to a remarkable international coaching career.

Les Bleus possess arguably the deepest squad in the competition. Kylian Mbappe remains the focal point of the attack, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola provide exceptional support. The midfield and defence remain equally impressive, with Aurelien Tchouameni, William Saliba and Theo Hernandez among the key figures.

France recently defeated both Brazil and Colombia in pre-tournament friendlies despite rotating heavily, highlighting the depth available to Deschamps as he seeks one final triumph.

France’s full squad for the FIFA WC 2026: Brice Samba, Malo Gusto, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Manu Kone, Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, Ibrahima Konate, Mike Maignan, William Saliba, Warren Zaire-Emery, Theo Hernandez, Desire Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Robin Risser, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Maxence Lacroix.

Senegal

Senegal remain one of Africa’s strongest representatives and arrive with a point to prove. The Teranga Lions were at the centre of controversy after their AFCON triumph was later stripped amid legal disputes, creating an added sense of motivation heading into the World Cup.

Pape Thiaw has inherited a talented and experienced squad led by captain Kalidou Koulibaly and star forward Sadio Mane. The squad also features Premier League talent in Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr and Pape Matar Sarr, while young stars such as Lamine Camara continue to emerge.

Senegal famously defeated France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup and will hope history can repeat itself when the sides meet again.

Senegal’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Yehvann Diouf, Mamadou Sarr, Kalidou Koulibaly, Abdoulaye Seck, Idrissa Gueye, Pathe Ciss, Assane Diao, Lamine Camara, Bamba Dieng, Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Cherif Ndiaye, Iliman Ndiaye, Ismail Jakobs, Krepin Diatta, Edouard Mendy, Pape Matar Sarr, Ismaila Sarr, Moussa Niakhate, Ibrahim Mbaye, Habib Diarra, Bara Sapoko Ndiaye, Mory Diaw, Antoine Mendy, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Pape Gueye.

Iraq

Iraq return to the World Cup for the first time since Mexico 1986 after one of the longest qualification journeys of any nation in the tournament. Graham Arnold’s side played 21 qualification matches before securing their place.

The Lions of Mesopotamia are built around captain Jalal Hassan and striker Aymen Hussein, whose goals proved decisive throughout qualification. The squad also includes several players with experience of European football, including Zidane Iqbal, Ali Al Hamadi and Youssef Amyn.

Drawn into arguably the toughest group in the tournament, Iraq enter as underdogs but will be determined to prove they belong on football’s biggest stage.

Iraq’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Fahad Talib, Rebin Sulaka, Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashim, Manaf Younis, Youssef Amyn, Ibrahim Bayesh, Ali Al Hamadi, Mohanad Ali, Ahmed Qasem, Jalal Hassan, Ali Yousif, Zidane Iqbal, Ahmed Maknzi, Amir Al Ammari, Ali Jasim, Aymen Hussein, Kevin Yakob, Aimar Sher, Marko Farji, Ahmed Basil, Merchas Doski, Zaid Ismail, Mustafa Saadoon, Frans Putros.

Norway

Norway’s return to the World Cup after a 28-year absence has generated enormous excitement. Led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, this is widely viewed as the nation’s most talented generation since the 1990s.

Coach Stale Solbakken has built a balanced side around elite attacking quality. Haaland arrives as Norway’s all-time leading scorer, while Odegaard orchestrates the attack from midfield. Supporting them are Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb and Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Norway qualified impressively and believe they can finally surpass their previous best World Cup performance, having never progressed beyond the Round of 16.

FIFA WC 2026 Group I: Players to watch out for

France — Kylian Mbappe

France’s captain remains one of the most decisive players in world football. Now operating more centrally, Mbappe is the player around whom France’s attack is built.

Senegal — Sadio Mane

Although no longer at the peak of his Liverpool years, Mane remains Senegal’s emotional leader and biggest attacking threat. This tournament could represent his final World Cup.

Iraq — Aymen Hussein

Iraq’s star striker scored the goal that secured qualification and remains one of the nation’s most important players. His finishing ability gives Iraq hope of causing an upset.

Norway — Erling Haaland

Norway’s all-time leading scorer is entering his prime and arrives at the tournament as one of the world’s most feared forwards. His battle with Mbappe will be one of the highlights of the group stage.

FIFA WC 2026 Group I: Final standings prediction

France possess the deepest squad and greatest tournament pedigree in the group, making them favourites to finish top. Norway’s attacking quality gives them a slight edge in the race for second place, though Senegal have more than enough experience and talent to challenge for qualification.

Iraq face a difficult task against three strong opponents but should remain competitive throughout the group stage.

Predicted standings

• 
  France
• 
  Norway
• 
  Senegal
• 
  Iraq

Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Adidas Trionda match ball on the pitch prior to the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Germany and Slovakia at Red Bull Arena on November 17, 2025 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo/Getty Images)

The FIFA World Cup will return to North America in 2026, 32 years after the United States first hosted the tournament in 1994. But much has changed since then, from the number of teams and matches to ticket prices, stadium requirements and even the way games are managed on the field.The 2026 edition, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, will be the biggest World Cup in history. The tournament will feature 48 teams, up from 24 in 1994 and 32 in recent editions.One of the biggest changes is the cost of attending matches. In 1994, first-round tickets ranged from USD 25 to USD 75, while tickets for the final cost between USD 180 and USD 475. For the 2026 World Cup, ticket prices initially ranged from USD 140 to USD 2,735 for first-round games and from USD 4,185 to USD 8,680 for the final. FIFA later increased the highest-priced final ticket to USD 10,990. The 2026 tournament is also the first World Cup to use dynamic pricing, where ticket prices change based on demand.The tournament itself has grown significantly. The 1994 World Cup was the last edition with 24 teams before FIFA expanded the field to 32 in 1998. In 2026, the competition will feature 48 teams and include a new round of 32. Teams reaching the final will now play eight matches instead of seven.There have also been changes to playing conditions. In 1994, FIFA allowed some stadiums to use narrower pitches than the standard dimensions. For the 2026 tournament, stadiums have been modified to meet FIFA’s field-size requirements.Attendance is also expected to increase sharply. The 1994 World Cup drew a record crowd of 3.59 million spectators across 52 matches, averaging 68,991 fans per game. With nearly double the number of matches in 2026, total attendance is expected to reach between six and seven million.The tournament’s footprint has expanded as well. The 1994 edition was played in nine stadiums across the United States, with the opening match held at Soldier Field in Chicago. The 2026 World Cup will use 16 venues — 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. All matches from the quarterfinal stage onward will be played in the United States. Chicago will not host any matches after declining to participate due to concerns over financial arrangements with FIFA.Stadium infrastructure has also changed. While the 1994 World Cup used several NFL venues, some of which no longer exist, all 11 US venues in 2026 are modern NFL stadiums with luxury suites and premium seating areas.Player welfare measures have evolved too. Teams played through hot and humid conditions in 1994 without scheduled breaks. In 2026, matches played in similar weather conditions will include three-minute water breaks in each half, which coaches may also use to pass on instructions.Substitution rules have expanded significantly. Teams could make only two substitutions during the 1994 World Cup, with a third allowed only in specific situations involving goalkeepers. In 2026, teams can use five substitutes during normal time, with an additional substitute available in extra time and another allowed to replace a player suffering a concussion.Several presentation aspects have also changed. Player names first appeared on jerseys at the 1994 World Cup and have since become a standard feature of the game.The way the tournament is organised has changed as well. The 1994 World Cup was largely run by a local organising committee led by Alan Rothenberg, then head of the US Soccer Federation. For the 2026 tournament, FIFA is directly overseeing operations, with president Gianni Infantino playing a prominent role in preparations.

The Carolina Hurricanes will look to even up their best-of-seven series when they battle the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 4 of their 2026 Stanley Cup Final matchup. Vegas outlasted Carolina 5-4 in double overtime on Saturday night to take a 2-1 series lead. The Hurricanes (53-22-7), who finished the regular season with 113 points, are looking to win their second-ever Stanley Cup. The Golden Knights (39-26-17), who finished with 95 points, are looking to win their second Stanley Cup title and first since 2023.

Face-off from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Hurricanes are the -114 favorites (risk $114 to win $100) in the latest Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights odds, while the over/under for total goals scored is 5.5. Before making any Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights picks, check out the 2026 Stanley Cup Final predictions and betting advice for Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights from the SportsLine Projection Model.

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The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times. The model enters the 2026 Stanley Cup Final with a +568 return on top-rated money-line NHL picks. Anyone following its NHL betting advice at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen strong returns.

Now, the model has simulated Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NHL picks and betting predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NHL odds and trends for Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes:

Top Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes predictions

After 10,000 simulations of Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights, SportsLine’s model is going Over on the total (5.5). The Over has hit in six of the past 10 head-to-head matchups. The Over has also hit in each of the last four Carolina games, and in four of the past five Vegas games. The Over has also hit in 50 of the last 98 Carolina games with two pushes.

The SportsLine model is projecting Carolina’s Seth Jarvis to score .41 goals and .43 assists, while goaltender Frederik Andersen will make 22 saves and allow 3.11 goals. Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev is projected to score .46 goals and .28 assists. Goalie Carter Hart will make 25.8 saves and allow 2.92 goals. It also projects 6.2 combined goals between the teams, making the Over having all the value. See the model’s Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights predictions at SportsLine.

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How to make Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights picks 

After simulating each shift of Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes 10,000 times, the model also says one side of the money line has all the value. You can head to SportsLine to see the model’s NHL picks. 

So who wins Golden Knights vs. Hurricanes, and which side of the money line has all the value? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Hurricanes vs. Golden Knights spread to back, all from the model that has returned $668 on top-rated NHL picks, and find out.

Defending champions Argentina begin their quest to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to successfully defend a FIFA World Cup title. Lionel Messi is set for a sixth consecutive World Cup appearance as Lionel Scaloni’s side take on Algeria, Austria and Jordan in Group J.

Argentina are overwhelming favourites on paper, but Austria’s aggressive pressing game, Algeria’s strongest qualifying campaign in history and Jordan’s fearless debut ensure there should be plenty of intrigue behind the battle for top spot.

FIFA WC 2026 Group J: Teams

• 
  Argentina
• 
  Algeria
• 
  Austria
• 
  Jordan

FIFA WC 2026 Group J: Team analysis

Argentina

Argentina arrive in North America carrying the weight of expectation once again. The reigning world champions followed their 2022 World Cup triumph with another Copa America title in 2024 and remain one of the most complete sides in international football.

Lionel Scaloni has retained the core that conquered Qatar, blending experience with emerging talents such as Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone. While Lionel Messi remains the face of the team, Argentina have shown they are capable of winning without relying solely on their captain.

The squad remains packed with quality across every department. Emiliano Martínez provides reliability in goal, Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez anchor the defence, while Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández form one of the strongest midfield units in the competition.

Algeria

Algeria return to the World Cup for the first time since 2014 hoping to recreate the magic that took them to the Round of 16 in Brazil. Vladimir Petković has moulded a side that combines experienced leaders with a new generation of attacking talent.

Riyad Mahrez remains the emotional leader despite entering the twilight of his career, while Mohammed Amoura emerged as one of Africa’s most dangerous forwards during qualifying. The emergence of players such as Ibrahim Maza, Amine Gouiri and Anis Hadj Moussa has added fresh energy to the squad.

Algeria enjoyed their best-ever World Cup qualifying campaign and arrive with genuine ambitions of progressing beyond the group stage.

Algeria’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Melvin Mastil, Aïssa Mandi, Achref Abada, Mohamed Amine Tougai, Zineddine Belaïd, Ramiz Zerrouki, Riyad Mahrez, Houssem Aouar, Amine Gouiri, Fares Chaibi, Anis Hadj Moussa, Nadhir Benbouali, Jaouen Hadjam, Hicham Boudaoui, Rayan Aït Nouri, Oussama Benbot, Rafik Belghali, Mohamed Amoura, Nabil Bentaleb, Adil Boulbina, Ramy Bensebaini, Ibrahim Maza, Luca Zidane, Yacine Titraoui, Fares Ghedjemis, Samir Chergui.

Austria

Austria are back at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 after establishing themselves as one of Europe’s most organised teams under Ralf Rangnick.

Known for their relentless pressing and intensity, Austria topped a difficult qualifying group and arrive with considerable momentum. David Alaba finally gets the opportunity to play on football’s biggest stage, while Marko Arnautović remains a proven goalscorer despite being in the latter stages of his career.

The midfield combination of Konrad Laimer, Marcel Sabitzer and Nicolas Seiwald gives Austria energy and tactical flexibility, while Rangnick’s system makes them difficult opponents for any team.

Austria’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Alexander Schlager, David Affengruber, Kevin Danso, Xaver Schlager, Stefan Posch, Nicolas Seiwald, Marko Arnautović, David Alaba, Marcel Sabitzer, Florian Grillitsch, Michael Gregoritsch, Florian Wiegele, Patrick Pentz, Saša Kalajdžić, Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene, Carney Chukwuemeka, Romano Schmid, Konrad Laimer, Patrick Wimmer, Alexander Prass, Marco Friedl, Paul Wanner, Michael Svoboda, Alessandro Schöpf.

Jordan

Jordan are one of the stories of the tournament after qualifying for their first-ever World Cup. Their remarkable rise began with a run to the 2024 AFC Asian Cup final before they carried that momentum into qualifying.

Head coach Jamal Sellami has built a disciplined side capable of frustrating stronger opponents, while Mousa Al-Taamari provides the attacking spark. Jordan scored a national-record 32 goals during qualifying and proved difficult to beat away from home.

While expectations remain modest, Jordan have already exceeded previous national achievements simply by reaching the finals.

Jordan’s full squad for FIFA WC 2026: Yazeed Abulaila, Mohammad Abu Hashish, Abdallah Nasib, Husam Abu Dahab, Yazan Al Arab, Amer Jamous, Mohammad Abu Zrayq, Noor Al Rawabdeh, Ali Olwan, Musa Al Taamari, Odeh Al Fakhouri, Nour Bani Attiah, Mahmoud Al Mardi, Rajaei Ayed, Ibrahim Sadeh, Mo Abualnadi, Salim Obaid, Mohammad Taha, Saed Al Rosan, Mohannad Abu Taha, Nizar Al Rashdan, Abdallah Al Fakhouri, Ihsan Haddad, Ali Azaizeh, Mohammad Al Dawoud, Anas Badawi.

FIFA WC 2026 Group J: Players to watch out for

Argentina — Lionel Messi

Even at 39, Messi remains the focal point of Argentina’s attack. The captain enters a record sixth World Cup appearance after scoring eight goals in qualifying and continues to be the player opponents fear most. Having completed football’s greatest prize collection in 2022, he now has the opportunity to achieve something even Diego Maradona never managed — defend a World Cup title.

Algeria — Riyad Mahrez

The Algeria captain remains the team’s creative heartbeat. While age has reduced some of his explosiveness, his vision, technical quality and leadership remain vital. Mahrez’s experience could prove decisive in what is expected to be a tightly contested battle for second place.

Austria — Konrad Laimer

One of Europe’s most complete midfielders, Laimer embodies Austria’s pressing identity. His versatility, work rate and tactical intelligence allow him to influence matches in multiple positions and make him one of Austria’s most important players.

Jordan — Mousa Al-Taamari

Jordan’s biggest star and most accomplished player in European football, the Rennes winger combines pace, dribbling ability and creativity, and much of Jordan’s attacking threat will flow through him during their historic World Cup debut.

FIFA WC 2026 Group J: Final standings prediction

FIFA WC 2026 Group J: Full schedule

Bournemouth are willing to include a release clause in the new contract proposal submitted to Alex Scott.

Scott is subject of interest fromPremier League rivals after an impressive campaign on the south coast.

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The 22-year-old was nominated for thePremier League Young Player of the Season award, and could make his England debut in Wednesday’s friendly with Costa Rica.

Scott has been invited to join the pre-World Cup training camp by England manager Thomas Tuchel, despite missing out on the final tournament squad.

Liverpool have been linked with a move to sign Scott, following the appointment of former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola. Scott’s childhood side, Tottenham Hotspur, and Manchester United have also monitored his progress this season.

However, Bournemouth are determined to keep hold of the midfielder – for now. The Cherries are preparing a new contract for Scott to recognise his development and are prepared to include a release clause in the arrangement.

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Bournemouth hope release clause can persuade Scott stay

Fabrizio Romano has reported that stance, in a move that replicates past contracts for Dean Huijsen and Rayan. Bournemouth hope the prospect of a future sale, for an agreed fee, can continue to attract emerging talent to the Vitality Stadium.

Huijsen signed for Real Madrid after his £50m release clause was activated last summer, following a superb debut season at Bournemouth. Rayan’s contract contains a €100m (£86.3m) release clause that will only become active in 2027.

Morocco are playing five-time world champions Brazil in their opening World Cup match on June 13, with fans hopeful following the team’s success in the Africa Football Cup of Nations a few months prior. They will also be facing Scotland and Haiti.

The second half of Genshin Impact Luna VII is underway, alongside a couple of banners to confuse newer players and old. With a new nation, and possibly a new surge of meta being so close to the game, Lohen and Mavuika make their way into the game. Whether players should be investing in a new exciting character, or a strong meta DPS unit, is what many are wondering in the current state of the game.

While both Lohen and Mavuika are great units, both rely heavily on supports. For newer players, it is safe to pull on the Mavuika banner, as getting the Fire Archon, alongside Bennett, would make more sense for a new account.

However, this doesn’t mean that Mavuika is the only option, as there are specific reasons why someone should go for Lohen as well. This article goes over everything you must know before pulling on either the Lohen or the Mavuika banner in Luna VII.

Genshin Impact Luna VII: Why should you pull for Mavuika instead of Lohen?

Here’s what Mavuika offers for a new account, or an old account, especially if she isn’t present in any lineup:

Mavuika’s pull value:

Mavuika is a powerful Pyro DPS hyper carry that relies on a few supports to reach her full potential. However, even with or without the most accessible 4-star units, she can complete almost any content in the game with the right build. A new account without Lohen or Mavuika should get the latter as she is capable of dishing out damage all by herself, without the help of any elemental reactions.

She scales massively off of her ATK and other stats to act as a lone hyper carry for any team. However, units such as Bennett, Rosaria, and Iansan, are easy to get, and also considered to be the best supports for Mavuika in any content.

Furthermore, Mavuika was the first character in Genshin Impact who didn’t need the Energy Recharge stat for her kit. She gain energy for her burst via external means, which is engraved into her abilities.

Hence, players can easily build her by ignoring ER completely, and by stacking ATK and Crit to dish out as much damage as possible.

Lohen’s pull value:

Unlike Mavuika, Lohen needs a lot of support to reach his full potential. Thankfully, the featured 4-star units, Bennett and Xiangling, are great for a Melt team. From a new and veteran account standpoint, getting Lohen is not recommended due to two main reasons:

1. Getting to Lohen’s full potential can be tricky, as he requires powerful off-field characters.
2. Sandrone has already been teased as another Cryo character for the next patch, who is also likely to bring in a new reaction, similar to Lunar from Nod-Krai.

Hence, if you are thinking of going for a Cryo character, it is best to hold off, and then wait until Sandrone comes along in 6.7.

However, if the choice is between Lohen and Mavuika, then the fire archon wins by a country mile.

Conclusion:

Mavuika is the better character to pull for in Genshin Impact 6.6 Luna VII. She can stand on her own two feet and carry an entire team all by herself, without needing that much support from other units. However, having those supports will scale Mavuika’s DPS immensely, making her one of the best DPS units in the game. Additionally, she is an Archon, which might tempt many players to complete their Archon collection before Tsaritsa comes along.

Lohen, on the other hand, doesn’t provide anything special in terms of utility or damage. You will require off-field Pyro and Hydro characters, alongside limited units such as Nicole and Citlali, to gain Lohen’s maximum potential on field. Even then, Mavuika has him beat with minimal investment.

Check out our articles on Genshin Impact: