FIFA World Cup 2026: Historic Treble Seals Perfect Group Stage for France
France completed a perfect group stage at the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway, powered by a stunning first-half hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé.
With both sides already qualified, the match at Boston Stadium determined who would finish top of Group I. Norway, heavily rotated and missing star striker Erling Haaland, were no match for France’s attacking brilliance.
Dembélé struck three times inside 32 minutes, becoming only the second player in World Cup history to score a first-half treble since Oleg Salenko in 1994.
His goals, two trademark left-foot finishes into the far corner and a third clinical strike past goalkeeper Egil Selvik, marked the second-fastest hat-trick in tournament history.
Norway briefly responded through Thelo Aasgaard, who equalised in the 21st minute, but France’s dominance was never in doubt.
Goalkeeper Mike Maignan preserved the lead by saving a second-half penalty from Jørgen Strand Larsen, before substitute Désiré Doué added a stoppage-time fourth to seal the win.
The result means France have won all three group matches at a World Cup for the first time since 1998, when they lifted the trophy on home soil.
Assistant coach Guy Stephan, deputising for Didier Deschamps, oversaw a performance that underlined Les Bleus’ depth and attacking firepower.
Dembélé, who had never scored at a major tournament before this week, now has four goals at the finals and was named Superior Player of the Match.
France will face a third-placed team from Groups C, D, F, G or H in the round of 32, while Norway advance to meet Côte d’Ivoire.
