Erling Haaland believes Norway’s players should celebrate their qualification for the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 rather than overthinking their final group stage match against France.
The Scandinavian side kicked off their World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq, followed by a crucial 3-2 win against Senegal. These consecutive victories secured their ticket to the knockout stage, regardless of the outcome against France.
When asked about the upcoming showdown with Les Bleus, Haaland responded bluntly:
“I can’t care too much about that match right now. I think France will beat us.” He added, “I don’t think it stops there; they might actually win the entire tournament.”
Group Outcomes and the Haaland vs. Mbappé Golden Boot Race
If Norway finishes second in the group, they will likely set up a Round of 32 clash against Ivory Coast. Meanwhile, France would face one of the best third-placed teams from Groups 3, 4, 6, 7, or 9.
The upcoming France-Norway fixture is not only critical for the top spot in the group, but it also features a highly anticipated battle between Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland, with both superstars having already scored 4 goals each in the tournament so far.
