Who will Norway play in World Cup round of 32? Clash with France will determine fate
Who will Norway play in World Cup round of 32? Clash with France will determine fate
Elizabeth Flores, USA TODAYFri, June 26, 2026 at 11:48 AM UTC
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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 32 bracket takes shape, Norway – which is already through to the knockout stage – faces its toughest challenge of the tournament thus far: a high-stakes clash with France to determine Group I's winner.
Norway opened its World Cup campaign in dominant fashion, thrashing Iraq 4-1. In its second group-stage match, Norway edged Senegal 3-2 in a thrilling, back-and-forth encounter.
With two wins in two matches, Norway sits level with France with six points atop Group I, setting up a winner-takes-all battle for the group and putting itself in a favorable position heading into the knockout round.
The stakes are enormous. Topping the group would mean Norway faces a third-place team from Groups C, D, F, G or H (most likely Sweden) in the round of 32. Finishing second, however, means a likely clash with the Group E runner-up, which would be Ivory Coast. Here is a list of potential opponents.
More: Which nation will USA face in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32?
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Who will Norway play in World Cup round of 32?
Should Norway win Group I, they will face a third-place team from one of Groups C, D, F, G, or H in the round of 32.
Group C: Scotland
Group D: Paraguay
Group F: Sweden
Group G: Egypt, Iran, Belgium, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Cabo Verde, Saudi Arabia
Finishing as Group I runners-up means a tougher test against the second-place team from Group E.
Group E: Ivory Coast
When does Norway play in World Cup round of 32?
If Norway takes first place in Group I, they’ll play in New York/New Jersey on Tuesday, June 30 at 9 p.m. ET. A second-place finish means their round of 32 match will also be on June 30, but it would be at Dallas Stadium with the kickoff time still to be determined.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Norway's World Cup round of 32 potential opponents
Source: “AOL Sports”
