Ousmane Dembélé hat-trick eases France past Norway to seal top spot in World Cup group
France defeated Norway 4-1 in a 2026 World Cup group stage match, led by a 25-minute hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé. The victory secures France the top spot in Group I, while Norway prepares for a knockout match against Côte d’Ivoire.
Why it matters
The result significantly impacts the tournament bracket for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a major global sporting event.
Ousmane Dembélé plays it cool with his celebration alongside Jules Koundé. Photograph: Winslow Townson/Imagn Images/Reuters Ousmane Dembélé plays it cool with his celebration alongside Jules Koundé. Photograph: Winslow Townson/Imagn Images/Reuters World Cup 2026 Dembélé hat-trick fires France past Norway to seal top spot in World Cup group Barney Ronay at Boston Stadium Fri 26 Jun 2026 17.10 EDT Last modified on Sat 27 Jun 2026 02.06 EDT Share Prefer the Guardian on Google Does anyone at the World Cup have the defensive strength to deny this hyper-mobile, supremely varied French attack? Not, it turns out, a second-string Norway, who were torn apart in the first half in Boston, as Ousmane Dembélé scored a beautifully precise 25-minute hat-trick en route to a 4-1 win. France now top Group I and will play their last-32 tie in New Jersey on Tuesday. Norway will play Côte d’Ivoire in Texas.
Sports reporting focused on match statistics and performance analysis.
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