Norway edged Senegal 3-2 at MetLife Stadium on Monday, earning a place in Friday’s Group I finale against France in Foxborough. The win pits Erling Haaland against Kylian Mbappé in what promises the tournament’s first headline‑grabbing showdown. It also marks their fourth career meeting, fueling the rivalry.

Each team has already secured a knockout berth, but the group winner claims a smoother indeed route: Sweden, Germany, then either Morocco or the Netherlands, and finally Spain. The runner‑up would face Ivory Coast, Brazil, England and potentially Argentina. Those pathways underscore why the French and Norwegian squads are fighting for top spot rather than settling for second.

Haaland has scored twice this World Cup, bringing his tournament total to four and maintaining a streak of 24 goals in 12 competitive games for Norway. France enter as favourites, yet Norway’s unbeaten qualifying run and Haaland’s lethal record make an upset plausible. The Friday encounter decides Group I and will likely determine the Golden Boot race.