26/06/2026

SPORTS FRIDAY | JUNE 26, 2026

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2026 WORLD CUP

Les Bleus in a pickle

France need draw against Norway to secure top spot but rocky road lies ahead

F RANCE can secure a more comfortable route through the World Cup when they face Norway in their final Group I match tomorrow (3am Malaysian time), though finishing top could leave them facing one of the toughest roads to the trophy. Assured of a place in the round of 32 after victories over Senegal and Iraq, France need only a draw to finish first thanks to their superior goal difference. While the sporting benefits of topping the group are debatable, doing so would allow the 2018 champions to remain in Northeastern United States until the quarterfi nals rather than embark on a cross-country journey through Dallas, Miami and Atlanta. France are nevertheless expected to make changes. Didier Deschamps, who returned home following the death of his mother, used all five substitutions during Tuesday’s 3-0 win over Iraq, a sign that squad management may take precedence with qualification already secured. “Didier Deschamps will not be able to be on the bench for the final Group I game,” said the French Football Federation in a statement. “The coach had the painful experience learning of the death of his mother. He will return to France to attend the funeral.”

that could include Germany in the round of 16 and European champions Spain in the semifinals. Norway, meanwhile, have become one of the stories of the tournament. Their synchronised rowing celebration has won admirers around the world and victories over Iraq and Senegal have secured their place in the knockout rounds. Coach Stale Solbakken’s side arrive full of confidence after their 3-2 victory over Senegal, but the physical toll of that game could prompt significant rotation against France. Solbakken said Norway would do all they can to help Erling Haaland claim the Golden Boot, with the striker on four goals, but he may be reluctant to risk his biggest stars with qualification guaranteed. Haaland and captain Martin Odegaard could be on the bench with Alexander Sorloth expected to spear head the attack. Patrick Berg, who set up Haaland’s

second goal against Senegal, could slot into mid field. Central defender Leo Ostigard has also strengthened his case for a starting role and may replace the injured Julian Ryerson. Whether or not Norway rotate, France will have to contend with one of the form teams of the tournament. The Scandinavians have scored seven goals in two matches and shown resilience in coming from behind to beat Senegal,

Longtime assistant coach Guy Stephan will oversee the team from the touchline in Boston. The equation facing France is an unusual one.

Erling Haaland

with Haaland and Odegaard again pro viding the focal points of their attack. France, however, possess their own in-form talisman and an incomparable firepower. Kylian Mbappe’s double against Iraq took his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose and two behind Lionel Messi’s all-time record. – Reuters

Kylian Mbappe

Finishing first would likely avoid an early collision with the likes of Brazil, England and Portugal while reducing

travel, but it could place them on a path

Egypt, Iran faceoff in shadow of geopolitics

Senegal, Iraq meet in last-chance saloon

but the issue remains a sensitive one. The political backdrop could become even more pronounced if Iran win the group, potentially setting up a high-profile last-32 meeting with the United States on July 7. Before dreaming of that, however, Iran must overcome an Egyptian side riding a wave of confidence after coming from behind to beat New Zealand 3-1 and claim the country’s first World Cup win. Coach Hossam Hassan revealed after wards that a stern half-time team talk sparked the turnaround. “I told them that if we were not going to win, then there was no reason to go back onto the pitch,” Hossam said. “We had to write a new page in the history of Egyptian football.” Egypt know a draw will likely be enough to secure top spot, potentially earning a favourable last-32 tie in Seattle against one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams. Remaining in the Pacific Northwest would also suit a squad based in nearby Spokane. Adding another layer of controversy, tomorrow’s fixture has been designated Seattle’s “Pride Match”, part of the city’s annual Pride celebrations. The initiative was planned long before the World Cup draw paired two nations where homo sexuality is criminalised. Both Egypt and Iran objected after the draw, with the Egyptian Football Association arguing that Pride-related activities “directly conflict with the cultural, religious and social values” of Arab and Islamic societies. Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj similarly described the concept as an “unreason able and illogical move”. Seattle organisers, however, have refused to back down. – Reuters

EGYPT and Iran both go into their final group game on Friday (11am) with a strong chance of reaching the World Cup knock out stage, but geopolitics and cultural ten sions threaten to overshadow what should be one of the most intriguing contests of the group phase. A historic first World Cup victory for seven-times African champions Egypt, 92 years after their tournament debut, has put them in pole position in Group G. Iran, meanwhile, remain unbeaten after hard-fought draws against Belgium and New Zealand, and victory could even see Team Melli finish top of the standings. Yet football has become only one part of the story. The match comes as the United States and Iran continue efforts to negotiate a lasting peace following the regional con flict triggered by US and Israeli strikes ear lier this year. Those tensions have had a direct impact on Iran’s World Cup campaign, with the team subjected to travel restrictions that have forced repeated trips between their base in Mexico and match venues in the United States. Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei has been outspoken about the situation. “I think our team is perhaps the most oppressed in the World Cup,” he said after earlier travel disruptions, adding that his players had spent so much time commut ing that “they didn’t even give us time to recover.” Iran’s preparations suffered another setback this week when forward Mehdi Taremi and assistant coach Saeed Alhoei were reportedly delayed by US airport officials while travelling to Seattle. Washington has since eased restrictions, allowing the Iranian delegation to arrive two days before matches instead of one,

keeper Edouard Mendy was injured against Norway and will not play against Iraq, have looked far removed from the team who won the Africa Cup of Nations in January (a title they have since been stripped of) amid reports of wrangling over money. But coach Pape Bouna Thiaw said before the Norway game that all administrative matters had been settled. After losing on Tuesday, Thiaw was clear that he felt their tournament was not yet over and that they could beat Iraq, whose coach Graham Arnold believes the same for his side. “We’ve got one match to go, and we need to focus on this last game, and try it and get three points and then cross our fingers,” Thiaw said. “I think it’s a little bit too early to say that we failed. We’re not dead. We’re not in a good position, and it is true that it’s the first time that Senegal has started a World Cup campaign with two defeats. But we’ve still got a chance to qualify, and we’re going to focus on the last game. We want to try and get those three points and hope that we can go through. “Once you’re in the next round, then it’s another tournament that starts,” he added. Australian Arnold was in the same bullish mood after the France defeat. “For me now, it’s all about Senegal,” the Arnold said. “With the extended, you know, the playoffs that eight third-place teams go through, you know, we’ve still got a chance.” – Reuters

SENEGAL were touted as a team with potential to go far at the World Cup, but successive defeats have them teetering on the brink of elimination and they need a comprehensive win over Iraq tomorrow (3am). For Iraq, it is a similar predica ment as they have also lost their opening two Group I games to France and Norway, who have taken the top two places and advanced to the last 32. Iraq and Senegal are scrambling to progress as one of the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups, but even if there is a winner when the two sides meet at the Toronto Stadium, they would likely have an anxious wait until the group stage concludes on Sunday before knowing whether their three-point haul is enough to reach the knockout stage. While Iraq were always expected to struggle against the two European sides in the group, Senegal had high hopes of making a strong early statement and laying down their credentials. They had famously upset then holders France in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup and were looking to repeat those heroics in New York in their first game of this year’s finals, but took a massive blow to their confidence as the French eased to a 3-1 win. Mistakes cost them dearly against Norway on Tuesday as they lost 3-2, gifting Erling Haaland opportunities he needed no second invitation to snap up. Senegal, whose first-choice goal