On Friday, June 26, France triumphed over Norway with a decisive 4-1 victory at Boston's Gillette Stadium, concluding the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. The spotlight was firmly on Ousmane Dembélé, who delivered a stunning hat-trick within just 25 minutes.
The French forward initiated the scoring with a precise shot in the seventh minute and struck again in the 20th minute, doubling the lead before Norway could regain composure. Remarkably, Dembélé's three goals came from only three shots, showcasing a perfect 100% conversion rate, making him the standout player of the match.
Norway attempted a swift response as Thelo Aasgaard narrowed the gap to 1-2 in the 21st minute, sparking a fleeting moment of tension among the crowd. Yet, France swiftly extinguished any hopes of a Norwegian comeback.
By the 32nd minute, Dembélé had completed his hat-trick, leaving the scoreboard at 3-1 and effectively sealing Norway's fate before the halftime whistle.
A notable statistic underlines France's dominance: Kylian Mbappé, while not scoring, contributed two assists and was substituted by J. Mateta in the 87th minute. The French captain posed a constant threat, dictating the flow of the game without needing to find the net.
In the second half, Norway had a crucial opportunity to close the gap. However, in the 50th minute, J. Larsen's penalty shot failed to find its target, leaving the score unchanged at 3-1. This missed chance marked the final blow to Norway’s competitive hopes.
Dembélé exited the field in the 65th minute, replaced by Bryan Barcola, having accomplished his mission. The scoring was completed in added time when Désiré Doué headed the ball into the net in the 90th minute, finalizing France's impressive 4-1 win.
The match statistics highlighted France's control throughout the 90 minutes: they held 57% possession compared to Norway's 43%, and outshot the Norwegians with 17 attempts, eight of which were on target, against Norway's 10 shots with four on goal.
Each team received a yellow card: P. Berg of Norway in the 10th minute and A. Tchouameni of France in the 74th minute. The game was witnessed by 64,146 fans at the Gillette Stadium.
The match context added intrigue: Norway strategically rotated their squad, leaving Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard on the bench, while France was without their head coach Didier Deschamps, who was absent due to his mother's passing, with Guy Stéphan stepping in.
With this result, France concluded Group I with an impeccable record: three wins, scoring 10 goals and conceding only two, earning nine points, and boasting a +8 goal difference, solidifying their status as one of the tournament's strongest teams. Dembélé now has four goals and one assist in the 2026 World Cup and was named the match's best player.
Despite the loss, Norway advanced as the group's second seed with six points, while Senegal and Iraq were eliminated. In the round of 16, France will face Sweden on June 30 in Philadelphia, and Norway will take on Ivory Coast the same day in Dallas.
Key Questions About France's Victory Over Norway
How did Ousmane Dembélé perform against Norway?
Ousmane Dembélé delivered an outstanding performance, scoring a hat-trick in just 25 minutes, with a perfect conversion rate of 100%, as he scored three goals from three shots.
What were the key statistics of the France vs. Norway match?
France dominated the match with 57% possession and 17 shots, eight of which were on target. Norway managed 10 shots with four on target. Each team received one yellow card.
Who did France and Norway face in the round of 16?
For the round of 16, France is set to play against Sweden in Philadelphia, while Norway will compete with Ivory Coast in Dallas, both matches scheduled for June 30.