France continues its successful run at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Thanks to an impressive hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé, France defeated Norway 4-1, concluding the group stage match on a winning note.
Match Progression and Dembélé's Goals
The French team demonstrated an aggressive playing style from the start of the match, which took place at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Saturday (June 27). As early as the seventh minute of the match, Ousmane Dembélé opened the scoring with a magnificent goal following a cross from Kylian Mbappé. Then, in the twentieth minute, he scored his second goal, using excellent finishing from outside the penalty area.
After the second goal, Norway managed to respond: Team Asgard scored a goal 14 seconds after the game resumed, bringing the score to 2-1. However, France maintained pressure, and Ousmane Dembélé scored his third goal in the thirty-second minute, becoming a hat-trick scorer. This was the first time in the World Cup since 1994 that a player scored a hat-trick in the first half. Previously, Oleg Salenko scored three goals in the first half against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup.
State of the Scoring Race
Ousmane Dembélé, the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, now has four goals in this championship. Lionel Messi remains the leader of the scoring chart with five goals, while Kylian Mbappé from France is in second place with four goals and two assists. Dembélé's performance significantly intensified the competition for the top scorer title.
End of the Game and Coaching Staff
In the second half, Norway earned a penalty, but French goalkeeper Mick Magonan brilliantly saved the shot by Jørgen Strand Larsen. In stoppage time, Desiré Doué scored the fourth goal for France, definitively securing the victory for the team. In the group stage, France scored 10 goals in three matches, demonstrating its power.
The head coach of France, Didier Deschamps, was absent from the match due to mourning his mother, Jeannette Deschamps, and was with his family in France. His duties were taken over by assistant coach Guy Stefan. Before the game, fans in France supported their coach with banners reading “AVEC TOI DIDIER” (With you, Didier).
Further Tournament Stages
France, a World Cup champion in 1998 and 2018, guaranteed itself a spot in the playoffs. The team will now face one of the best third-placed teams in the Round of 32. Meanwhile, Norway will play Côte d'Ivoire in the Round of 32.
