Norway vs. France Picks, Preview for World Cup Group I: Target Haaland, Mbappé?

Norway and France have been some of the most exciting teams to watch in the 2026 World Cup, and they’ll duke it out in a pivotal Group I match on Friday, June 26, at 3:00 p.m. ET on FOX. This much-anticipated group stage game will be played at Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Despite both teams flashing plenty of attacking firepower, France is a heavy favorite, with a 1.56x payout to win. France can claim the title of Group I winner with a win or a draw in this match, while Norway needs a win due to Les Bleus owning the goal-difference advantage.

It’ll be must-watch viewing with F Erling Haaland and F Kylian Mbappé leading the charge for their respective teams in this game. Let’s dive into our Norway vs. France picks, preview, and 2026 World Cup player projections on PrizePicks.

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Norway vs. France Picks for World Cup – Friday, June 26

There’s been plenty of rowing from Norway fans throughout the World Cup, and Haaland has been at the forefront of the team’s success. According to FotMob, Norway is tied for the most goals per match (3.5), fifth-most big chances created (10), and 12th-most shots on target per match (6.0), with Haaland scoring a brace in each of their first two games.

Across their 14 matches since the beginning of World Cup qualifying, Norway has scored multiple goals in 10 fixtures. That includes at least 3 goals scored in their first two group games.

France has been even more well-rounded than Norway, which shouldn’t be a surprise after finishing as the runner-up in the 2022 World Cup. Les Bleus have notched 3 goals in each of their first two group games, and Mbappé has also earned a brace in both matches.

With both Haaland and Mbappe sitting at 4 goals scored already, Haaland has the third-lowest payout to win the Golden Boot (7.69x), while Mbappé has the second-lowest (2.85x). Only F Lionel Messi has a lower payout (2.43x) with 5 goals to his name.

Not only is France registering the seventh-most shots on target (6.5) and big chances created per match (9), but they've also conceded the seventh-fewest xG (1.2). However, defending Haaland and Norway’s physical attack could become quite difficult, with standout DF William Saliba uncertain to play.

Ahead of what should be an exhilarating match, here are a few Norway vs. France player picks and stats to consider for Friday’s World Cup 2026 match — featuring projections from PrizePicks.

Norway F Erling Haaland: 3 Shots

• Haaland has posted 5 shots in each of Norway’s first two group-stage games.
• Among all players in the World Cup, Haaland has logged the second-most shots on target per 90 minutes (3.5).
• Moreover, Haaland is producing the second-most xG per 90 (1.34).
• There’s a chance Saliba is either sidelined or limited for France, providing Haaland with a more favorable matchup.
• France has failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last seven matches across all competitions.

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France F Kylian Mbappé: 0.5 Goals

• Mbappé has never disliked a shot on the pitch, and he’s combined for 12 shots (8 against Iraq) through his first two starts in the 2026 World Cup.
• Additionally, Mbappé is tied with Haaland for the second-most shots on target per 90 (3.5).
• As mentioned above, Mbappé has scored 2 goals in each of his first two games, and he’s scored at least once in seven of his last 10 World Cup appearances. He’s now put the ball in the back of the net at least 2 times in three straight World Cup matches.
• Norway’s biggest weakness is their lack of pace on defense, and Mbappé excels at deciding when to make runs behind an opponent’s back line.
• Although France can still win Group I with a draw, they’ll likely still want to keep their momentum going ahead of the Round of 32.

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France MF Michael Olise: 2.5 Shots

• Olise gets overshadowed by attention on Mbappé and F Ousmane Dembélé, but he’s been fantastic by tallying 2 shots in each of his first two group-stage matches.
• Plus, Olise has been a stellar facilitator, tying for the most assists (3) and posting the second-most xA per 90 (0.78) in the World Cup.
• With plenty of talent to feed the ball, Olise is also tied for the 14th-most chances created (7).
• Similar to Mbappe, Olise can take advantage of Norway’s lack of speed on defense.
• Since the second half of France’s World Cup opener, Olise has been playing more of a fluid role, and he’s attempted at least 42 passes in both games.

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Stakes are high for Norway and France in a Group I showdown on Friday. Both Haaland and Mbappé are on Golden Boot watch, while Olise is a crafty all-around player to watch for Les Bleus.

Don’t wait until the match starts tonight. Make your Norway vs. France picks on PrizePicks now and earn real money if you’re right on every World Cup game.

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