By Francis Onyach - Reporter
U.S, June 27, 2026 - France underlined their status as one of the favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Norway, inspired by a sensational first-half hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé. The reigning Ballon d'Or winner produced one of the tournament's finest individual performances as Les Bleus completed a perfect group-stage campaign, finishing top of Group I with maximum points and extending their unbeaten run in commanding fashion.
Although both nations had already secured qualification for the Round of 32 before kick-off, there was still plenty at stake. Top spot in the group would provide a more favourable knockout path, and France showed from the opening whistle that they had no intention of easing off despite already booking their place in the next round.
The evening carried extra emotion for the French squad. Head coach Didier Deschamps was absent after returning home to attend his mother's funeral, leaving his players determined to honour him with another convincing performance. They responded in the best possible fashion, producing an attacking masterclass that left a heavily rotated Norwegian side chasing shadows for much of the contest.
Norway coach Ståle Solbakken made the bold decision to rest 10 of his regular starters, including star striker Erling Haaland and captain Martin Ødegaard, with qualification already assured. While the move was designed to preserve his key players for the knockout stages, it left Norway vulnerable against one of the most dangerous attacks in world football.
France wasted little time taking advantage.
After Kylian Mbappé rattled the crossbar in the opening minutes, the captain turned provider in the seventh minute. His perfectly weighted pass found Dembélé inside the penalty area, and the winger calmly slotted beyond the goalkeeper to give France an early lead. It was Dembélé's second World Cup goal after 11 appearances across the previous two editions of the tournament, and it proved to be only the beginning of a remarkable afternoon.
The French attack continued to overwhelm Norway's inexperienced defence.
In the 20th minute, Dembélé doubled the advantage with another clinical finish after France carved open the Norwegian back line with swift passing and movement. However, Norway responded almost immediately as Thelo Aasgaard scored just 14 seconds after the restart, briefly reducing the deficit and giving the Scandinavian supporters hope that their side could mount a comeback.
Any hopes of a Norwegian revival were quickly extinguished.
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Just 12 minutes after his second goal, Dembélé completed a magnificent hat-trick with another composed finish in the 32nd minute. The treble arrived in just 25 minutes, making him only the third French player to score a World Cup hat-trick after Just Fontaine and Kylian Mbappé. It also marked the first first-half World Cup hat-trick since Oleg Salenko achieved the feat for Russia against Cameroon at the 1994 tournament.
Beyond the statistics, Dembélé's performance was a showcase of everything that has made him one of the world's elite attackers. His movement between the lines constantly unsettled Norway's defence, while his composure in front of goal reflected the confidence that has defined his season. Every touch carried purpose, and every attack seemed to flow through the Paris Saint-Germain star.
France continued to dominate after the break, although Norway showed admirable resilience despite fielding what was effectively a second-string team. The Scandinavians even had an opportunity to reduce the deficit further when they were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced an excellent save to deny Jørgen Strand Larsen and preserve France's comfortable advantage.
With the result already beyond doubt, France controlled possession for much of the second half before putting the finishing touches on another outstanding display deep into stoppage time. Substitute Désiré Doué rose highest to head home the fourth goal, completing a convincing 4-1 victory that further strengthened France's credentials as serious title contenders.
The victory means France finish Group I with a perfect nine points from three matches, scoring freely while displaying remarkable depth throughout the squad. Mbappé may remain the team's biggest star, but Dembélé's explosive form has added another dimension to an already frightening attack. With four goals in the tournament, he has now joined the race for the Golden Boot and is emerging as one of the standout performers of the World Cup.
For Norway, the defeat was easier to accept given that qualification had already been secured. Solbakken defended his decision to rotate his squad, explaining that several players were carrying fatigue after two physically demanding matches and that protecting his stars for the knockout rounds was the priority. Despite the heavy loss, Norway still advance as Group I runners-up and will face Ivory Coast in the Round of 32.
France, meanwhile, head into the knockout stage brimming with confidence. They are expected to face Sweden in the Round of 32, and if Dembélé continues producing performances of this calibre alongside Mbappé, Les Bleus will be among the most feared teams left in the competition.
On a day when many expected Mbappé and Haaland to dominate the headlines, it was Dembélé who stole the show. A devastating first-half hat-trick, relentless attacking football, and another commanding French victory served as a warning to the rest of the tournament: France are gathering momentum, and their star winger is hitting peak form at exactly the right time.