World Cup 2026 action continued on Friday night with a battle for Group I supremacy in Boston as Norway faced pre-tournament favourites France. Ousmane Dembele scored a first half hat-trick as France won 4-1 to progress as group winners. Both nations arrived in Boston already guaranteed a place in the round of 32 after winning their opening two matches, though Les Bleus just needed to avoid defeat.
Norway, needing a win to leapfrog France, made the surprising decision by leaving Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard on the bench, slumping to a 4-1 defeat and will now face Ivory Coast next Tuesday.
France, meanwhile, are still to discover their opponents in the knockout phase and completed the rout in second half stoppage time when Desire Doue scored his first World Cup goal with a cushioned header. Norway did have chances, most notably through Jorgen Strand Larsen but he had a poor penalty saved by Mike Maignan. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the Boston Stadium.
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FULL-TIME
Norway 1-4 France
Arthur Ferridge at Boston Stadium
And there it is, the cherry on top. A long-awaited fourth goal. Wonderful work in the build-up from Barcola, who was, in my mind, unlucky not to start today. Pinpoint cross for the unmarked Doue to knock home. Tidy.
GOAL! Norway 1-4 France | Desire Doue ‘90+4
90+4 min: GOALLLLL
Barcola picks out Doue and the PSG man finds the net with a cushioned header.
Norway 1-3 France
90+2 min: Hernandez powers forward from left-back and elects to shoot, leaning back though and his effort flies over the bar.
Norway 1-3 France
90 min: Into FIVE minutes of stoppage time.
Arthur Ferridge at Boston Stadium
As France close in on a pretty routine win here, their supporters are mimicking the Norwegian rowing celebration. Salt in the wounds.
Norway 1-3 France
86 min: No goal for Mbappe today, he is replaced by Mateta. Gusto is also on in place of Kounde.
Arthur Ferridge at Boston Stadium
Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta is being readied to come on for his World Cup debut at the ripe old age of 28.
Norway 1-3 France
83 min: Norway make a double change right before a corner as Schjelderup and Bobb make way for Nusa and Hauge.
That means no Haaland appearance tonight.
Arthur Ferridge at Boston Stadium
Fans here still singing for Haaland. Solbakken, though, is standing stoic in his technical area, pretending he can't hear them.