- Norway vs France lineups: Erling Haaland benched as Norway make sweeping changes, while Kylian Mbappe leads Les Bleus in the Group I showdown.
- The match will be played at Boston Stadium tonight, with kick-off scheduled for 10:00pm EAT.
- Both sides have already secured their places in the Round of 32, with only the Group I top spot and runners-up position left to be decided.
Erling Haaland is among the players who will start on the bench tonight at Boston Stadium as Norway take on France in a dead-rubber Group I World Cup clash kicking off at 10pm EAT.
Coach Stale Solbakken has made almost ten changes to his starting lineup, with several factors at play, including preserving his players’ energy after securing qualification to the Round of 32.
This encounter carries very little significance other than determining who finishes top of the group.
READ MORE ON THIS GAME PREVIEW: Norway Vs France Prediction: World Cup 2026 preview, team news, lineups & h2h
Official Norway vs France lineups
There could also be more at stake, including assessing the potential opponents they may face in the knockout stages.
While Haaland might have preferred to start and add to his tally in the Golden Boot race, where he currently has four goals, protecting him appears to be the bigger priority.
The reason is simple: Norway are already through to the knockout stages, and the route for teams emerging from Group I does not strongly suggest that finishing first offers a major advantage in the Round of 32.
The winner of Group I will face a third-place finisher, while the runners-up will meet Group E’s second-placed side, Ivory Coast.
Current projections, although still subject to change as the remaining group-stage fixtures conclude, have the Group I winners facing Sweden.
That is hardly a more favourable matchup than Ivory Coast, while there are strong arguments against Norway having to navigate the intensity of a Scandinavian derby against their bitter rivals in New York on June 30.
The Round of 32 clash against Ivory Coast, meanwhile, would be played under the roof of AT&T Stadium in Arlington on the same day.
CLICK LINK TO PLACE YOUR LIVE BET ON THIS GAME!
Both Group I pathways are likely to feature Round of 16 meetings with Germany or Brazil, meaning there isn’t a significantly easier route.
Put simply, Solbakken has decided there is no scenario in which topping the group is worth jeopardising Haaland’s fitness ahead of the knockouts, alongside fellow attacking stars Martin Odegaard, Alexander Sorloth, and Antonio Nusa.
- Norway Starting XI: Egil Selvik, Fredrik Aursnes, Leo Ostigard, Henrik Falchener, Fredrik Bjorkan, Thelo Aasgaard, Patrick Berg, Kristian Thorstvedt, Oscar Bobb, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Andreas Schjelderup.
- Norway Substitutes: Orjan Nyland, Sander Tangvik, Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjørn Heggem, Julian Ryerson, Marcus Pedersen, David Møller Wolfe, Sondre Langas, Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Antonio Nusa, Jens Petter Hauge, Morten Thorsby, Erling Haaland, Alexander Sorloth.
Meanwhile, France have opted for surgical, highly targeted adjustments under assistant coach Guy Stephan.
Rather than making wholesale changes, Les Bleus have introduced just three strategic alterations from the side that defeated Iraq 3-0, choosing to keep the core of the team intact and maintain their competitive rhythm.
William Saliba has been rested in favour of Maxence Lacroix, while Bradley Barcola makes way for the exciting Desire Doue on the wing.
The final adjustment is a significant boost, with midfield anchor Aurelien Tchouameni returning to the double pivot after recovering from a minor knock, sending Adrien Rabiot to the bench.
By keeping captain Kylian Mbappe and several experienced leaders in the starting XI, France aim to maintain tactical cohesion while carefully managing workloads ahead of the high-stakes knockout rounds.
Mbappe, meanwhile, could also be eyeing the Golden Boot, having already netted four goals.
- France Starting XI: Mike Maignan, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Maxence Lacroix, Theo Hernandez, Manu Kone, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue, Kylian Mbappe.
- France Substitutes: Robin Risser, Brice Samba, Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, William Saliba, N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot, Warren Zaïre-Emery, Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Marcus Thuram.
Where to watch Norway vs France in Kenya
In Kenya, you can catch the crucial Group I World Cup clash between Norway vs France live on SuperSport International (via DStv Channel 222) or on Azam TV Kenya through Azam Sports 2 HD and Azam Sports 4 HD.
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026