The final round of games of the 2026 World Cup group stage take place between Wednesday and Sunday. We’ve taken a look at the Group I permutations.
We’ve broken down each group, with this article focusing on Group I. This is one of the easiest groups to explain, with France and Norway already qualified for the Round of 32. It’s just about determining the final finishing positions for those two as well as Senegal and Iraq.
Below are all the permutations for those groups as well as who each team could face in the next round. It’s a little complicated but we’ve tried to make it as easy we can!
How could Group I finish?
| Result A | Result B | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| France to win | Senegal to win | 1. France (9 points) 2. Norway (6 points) 3. Senegal (3 points) 4. Iraq (0 points) |
| France to win | Senegal/Iraq draw | 1. France (9 points) 2. Norway (6 points) 3. Senegal (1 point) 4. Iraq (1 point) |
| France to win | Iraq win | 1. France (9 points) 2. Norway (6 points) 3. Iraq (3 points) 4. Senegal (0 points) |
| France/Norway draw | Senegal win | 1. France (7 points) 2. Norway (7 points) 3. Senegal (3 points) 4. Iraq (0 points) |
| France/Norway draw | Senegal/Iraq draw | 1. France (7 points) 2. Norway (7 points) 3. Senegal (1 point) 4. Iraq (1 point) |
| France/Norway draw | Iraq win | 1. France (7 points) 2. Norway (7 points) 3. Iraq (3 points) 4. Senegal (0 points) |
| Norway win | Senegal win | 1. Norway (9 points) 2. France (6 points) 3. Senegal (3 points) 4. Iraq (0 points) |
| Norway win | Senegal/Iraq draw | 1. Norway (9 points) 2. France (6 points) 3. Senegal (1 point) 4. Iraq (1 point) |
| Norway win | Iraq win | 1. Norway (9 points) 2. France (6 points) 3. Iraq (3 points) 4. Senegal (0 points) |
Group F was pretty simple for us to work out. Both matches (France vs Norway and Senegal vs Iraq) are winner takes all contests.
France know a win would secure them top spot in the group, while the same can be said about Norway. A draw favours France, thanks to their superior goal difference.
A victory for either Senegal or Iraq would leave them on three points and secure them third place in the group. It would also condemn the loser to bottom position and zero points. It remains to be seen whether three points would be enough to see either side advance to the Round of 32.
Who could the teams from Group I face in the next round?
The Group I winner will take on a third placed nation from Group C, D, F, G or H. The current projections indicate that would be Sweden.
Whoever finishes second will face the runner-up in Group E. That’s currently lining up to be Ivory Coast.
The current projections show that the side that finishes third in Group I won’t have done enough to reach the Round of 32.
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