Norway vs France – Betting Tips
Group I, Matchday 3 | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | Friday 26 June 2026, 20:00 BST
Our Best Bets
France to win
Over 2.5 goals
Our Predictions
Norway 1-3 France
This is the pick of the matchday and a properly box-office tie. Both sides are through, both have won twice from two, and Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé arrive tied at four goals apiece in the race for the Golden Boot. Top spot is the prize, with the loser potentially landing Brazil in the Round of 32, so the stakes are real even without survival in the mix. France lead on goal difference and only need a draw, but Guy Stéphan, in interim charge while Didier Deschamps tends to a family bereavement, is expected to name a strong XI. Norway have been brilliant going forward, but they have conceded in both group games, and that is the side of the ledger that decides this.
Norway have hinted at rotating Haaland and Martin Ødegaard, and Haaland himself has openly admitted France are “probably going to win”. Treat any rest call as the swing factor for line-ups when they drop.
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⭐️ Confidence Level: High (4/5)
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Norway vs France – Betting Tips
Our odds boost guide is worth a look first for squeezing a bit more out of these markets.
| Tip | Market | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Tip 1 | France to Win | Apart from William Saliba, France are close to full strength, with only Marcus Thuram doubtful, while Didier Deschamps will be absent from the bench due to a family bereavement. France have scored six and conceded one, and their attack should trouble a Norway defence that has conceded in both games. |
| Tip 2 (Value) | Over 2.5 Goals | France have gone over 2.5 in seven straight competitive games and 11 in a row in totals. Norway are joint-top scorers at this World Cup. Two of the best attacks in football, both with everything to play for. |
Tip 1 – France to Win
France are the right side to back at around 4/6. They have won three competitive matches in a row, scored six and conceded one in the group, and even with William Saliba ruled out, the depth on offer dwarfs anyone Norway have faced. Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise are all in form, and Désiré Doué is set to come back into the XI to replace Bradley Barcola.
Norway have been thrilling but vulnerable. Ståle Solbakken’s side have conceded in both games, with just two clean sheets in 11 outings, and with Julian Ryerson injured and Torbjørn Heggem a doubt, the back line is being reshuffled too. Against a French attack of this calibre, that is a tough ask.
⚠️ The reason confidence sits at 4/5 rather than the full 5/5: Guy Stéphan stands in for the grieving Deschamps and could yet manage minutes more conservatively than the original gaffer would. The team news of the day will tell you a lot.
Tip 2 – Value Bet: Over 2.5 Goals
For a punchier return, Over 2.5 Goals is the standout. The stat that does the heavy lifting: France have gone over 2.5 in seven straight competitive outings, and 11 in a row when including totals. Both teams have scored in six of their last seven, and 13 of Norway’s last 18 matches have produced more than 2.5 goals.
The match state amplifies the case. Haaland and Mbappé are tied at four goals apiece, both still chasing Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts, and neither will pass up the chance to add to that tally with the Round of 32 a few days away. Both sides have the attacking talent to score against anyone, and neither has shown the defensive discipline to keep this tight.
⚠️ The honest catch: if Solbakken does rotate Haaland and Ødegaard, the Norwegian end of the goals equation thins out considerably. The price, hovering around 10/11, reflects that risk.
Odds disclaimer: All odds in this article were correct at the time of writing and may have changed. Always confirm current odds with your bookmaker before placing a bet. Gamble responsibly. 18+. Help is available at begambleaware.org.
Norway vs France – Match Preview
| Point | Norway | France |
|---|---|---|
| World Ranking | 31st | 2nd |
| Captain | Martin Ødegaard | Kylian Mbappé |
| Goals scored (this World Cup) | 7 | 6 |
| Goals conceded (this World Cup) | 3 | 1 |
| Top Scorer (this WC) | Erling Haaland (4) | Kylian Mbappé (4) |
| Manager | Ståle Solbakken | Didier Deschamps (Guy Stéphan, interim) |
| Formation | 4-3-3 | 4-2-3-1 |
| What they need | Win to top the group | Draw to top the group |
Norway – Current Status
Norway’s first World Cup since 1998 has gone better than anyone in Oslo dared hope. A 4-1 demolition of Iraq, with Haaland scoring twice, was followed by a 3-2 win over Senegal, with Haaland again on the scoresheet. Six points, seven goals, and a tournament being thoroughly enjoyed. Solbakken has built a side that plays adventurous, front-foot football, even if the defending has been at times ragged.
Julian Ryerson is out after his thigh injury against Senegal, with Marcus Pedersen set for his first start. Torbjørn Heggem also hobbled off against Senegal and could make way for Leo Østigård. There is also chatter that Solbakken may rest one or two key men, including potentially Haaland and Ødegaard, given progression is secured. Confirm before kick-off.
Predicted Norway XI (4-3-3): Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Østigård, Møller Wolfe; Ødegaard, Berge, Aursnes; Sørloth, Haaland, Nusa.
France – Current Status
France have been classy without quite hitting top gear. A 3-1 win over Senegal saw a slow first half before they pulled away, and they followed it up with a controlled 3-0 over Iraq. Mbappé is on four goals, Dembélé has finally opened his tournament account, and the supporting cast of Olise, Doué and Barcola is the kind of forward depth most squads would kill for.
William Saliba is out after missing training, with Maxence Lacroix expected to come in alongside Dayot Upamecano. Marcus Thuram also sat out the session and is doubtful. The bigger context is off the pitch: Didier Deschamps is grieving his mother’s death and has temporarily returned to France, leaving assistant Guy Stéphan to take charge.
Predicted France XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Lacroix, T Hernandez; Tchouaméni, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé.
⚠️ Predicted line-ups are unconfirmed and subject to late changes before kick-off in Foxborough.
Norway vs France – Key Statistics
The data underlines exactly how close this is on paper and how exposed Norway look at the back. Both sides have racked up six points, both have beaten Senegal and Iraq, and France lead on goal difference of +5 to Norway’s +4. Haaland’s 0.27 xG per shot is the highest of any player at the tournament, and he and Mbappé are level on four goals, chasing Messi at the top of the chart.
The defensive picture is where France pull ahead. They have shipped a single goal across two games, while Norway have leaked in both and kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 matches. France have gone over 2.5 goals in seven consecutive competitive fixtures. Norway have given up 27 shots in their two games, two more than they have managed themselves, and that risk-taking finally meets a team that punishes mistakes.
Team News & Context
Star Player Spotlight
- Erling Haaland (Norway): Four goals in two games, with both braces, and leading the tournament in shot quality at this tournament. If Solbakken plays him, Saliba’s absence makes the Saliba-Upamecano spine France had counted on into Upamecano and Lacroix, a far less battle-tested pairing.
- Kylian Mbappé (France): Tied with Haaland on four goals and now scored in 16 World Cup appearances, picking up his first against Iraq in record-equalling time. The captain has been the constant in a fluid front line and is the obvious anytime-scorer pick if you fancy a flutter on goalscorers.
Head-to-Head Record
These two have never met at a World Cup, so this is genuine new ground at the highest level. The wider history favours France, with 7 wins, 4 draws and 3 defeats from 14 meetings, the most recent a 4-0 French friendly win in 2014. The last competitive meeting was a Euro 2000 qualifier 27 years ago. With such an old and friendly-heavy archive, the form book matters far more here than any history.
Top Scorer in Head-to-Head Fixtures
The two have shared only friendlies and ancient qualifiers across more than two decades, with goalscorers spread across generations of different squads, so there is no single standout scorer in this particular fixture. Current form, with Haaland and Mbappé both on four goals, is by far the better guide.
Manager Profile
- Ståle Solbakken (Norway): Has masterminded Norway’s first World Cup return in 28 years and built a fearless attacking unit, even if the defending is where the work remains.
- Didier Deschamps and Guy Stéphan (France): Deschamps is away from camp on compassionate grounds. Stéphan, his long-time assistant, takes the side for this one and has confirmed a strong selection.
Norway vs France – Last 5 Matches Form
The form lines are equally strong, but they tell two different stories about where the goals come from and how the matches play out.
Norway – Last 5 Form
| Result | Opponent | Match Type |
|---|---|---|
| W 3-2 | Senegal | Competitive (World Cup) |
| W 4-1 | Iraq | Competitive (World Cup) |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
Overall: five wins from five, with goals at one end and concerns at the other. Norway have scored in every one of their last 18 matches and remain unbeaten in 17 of them.
France – Last 5 Form
| Result | Opponent | Match Type |
|---|---|---|
| W 3-0 | Iraq | Competitive (World Cup) |
| W 3-1 | Senegal | Competitive (World Cup) |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
| W | Pre-tournament warm-up | Friendly |
Overall: also five wins from five, but with the meaner defensive record, just one goal conceded across two competitive games and clean sheets in three of the last five.
Both sides play on neutral US soil at Foxborough, so neither has a crowd edge. The form trend that matters most is the goals one. France’s matches have produced over 2.5 goals 11 times in a row, while Norway have scored in every one of their last 18. That overlap is the strongest statistical argument in this whole article.
Momentum sits with both, but France carry the slightly heavier hand. They are unbeaten in their last 12 competitive matches, and the depth to absorb the Saliba blow and still field a fearsome XI. Norway are the joyous outsiders with a Premier League striker in the form of his life, but the suspicion is that this is the level where the defending finally catches up with the attacking.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When do Norway play France?
The match is at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, with a UK kick-off at 20:00 BST on Friday 26 June 2026.
What is the prediction for Norway vs France?
We are going for a 3-1 France win in a high-scoring game. The depth and forward line of Les Bleus should prove too much for a Norway defence shipping goals all tournament, while Haaland and Mbappé both adding to their Golden Boot tally is the obvious read. Confidence: High (4/5).
Where can I watch Norway vs France in the UK?
The game is being shown live on ITV1, with streaming available through the ITVX app free of charge, and coverage starting at 7pm BST. BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT also offer full match commentary.
What are the odds for Norway vs France?
France are favourites at around 4/6, the draw sits roughly at 7/2, and a Norway win is out around 19/5. These odds were correct at the time of writing and can move.
Predictions and betting tips on this page are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. This site accepts no responsibility for losses arising from information published here. Betting should always be a form of entertainment and never a financial strategy.
Gamble responsibly. 18+. Help is available at begambleaware.org.