Didier Deschamps’ France arrive in North America with a forward line—spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise—that possesses unrivalled depth. They are joined by a Norwegian side returning to the global stage after 28 years, led by the elite finishing of Erling Haaland.
For punters, the outright group winner market offers little value. The true betting angle lies in the race for second place, where Sadio Mane’s Senegal must find a way to contain the Norwegian attack.
Meanwhile, Iraq and their talisman Ali Al Hamadi step into the fray as heavy underdogs, marking their nation's first appearance at the finals since 1986. Can a team of rank outsiders spearheaded by an injured Championship player topple the world’s best?
France
- Odds to win Group I: 1/2 (1.50)
- Odds to win World Cup: 9/2 (5.50)
Didier Deschamps has confirmed this will be his final tournament at the helm, and he commands a squad heavily stacked with top-tier profiles in every position. Following a pair of composed friendly victories in the United States, Les Bleus look tactically sharp and ready for a deep run.
Operating in a fluid 4-2-3-1, the French system relies on Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot to anchor the midfield, allowing Kylian Mbappe the freedom to drift and isolate defenders.
The pace and directness of Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise in wide areas make them incredibly difficult to contain over a full ninety minutes.
While a ruptured Achilles rules Hugo Ekitike out of the summer, the depth provided by players like Desire Doue ensures their attacking output never drops in quality.
France Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue; Mbappe.
- Tipstrr Verdict: BET! They possess too much attacking quality and should comfortably top the group with maximum points.
READ MORE: How to bet smart at the 20256 World Cup
Norway
- Odds to win Group I: 11/4 (3.75)
- Odds to win World Cup: 33/1 (34.00)
After a 28-year absence from the tournament, Norway arrive in North America having efficiently navigated their qualifying group. Stale Solbakken has built a tactical framework specifically designed to maximise the output of Erling Haaland, resulting in a healthy 37 goals scored across their eight qualifying fixtures.
The Scandinavian side utilises a 4-3-3 shape that focuses on stretching the pitch out wide to create central space for Haaland. Martin Odegaard serves as the creative architect in the pockets behind the frontline, though his recent struggles with a knee issue remain a slight concern.
If both Odegaard and Haaland are fully fit, their physical profile in attacking transitions will cause major problems. The primary flaw lies in a porous back four that recently leaked goals against the Netherlands when put under sustained pressure.
Norway Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Nyland; Ryerson, Ajer, Ostigard, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Sorloth, Haaland, Nusa.
- Tipstrr Verdict: BET! Their elite goalscoring potential gives them a distinct edge in the race for second place.
Senegal
- Odds to win Group I: 7/1 (8.00)
- Odds to win World Cup: 150/1 (151.00)
The Lions of Teranga land in the United States, navigating the fallout from a highly controversial African Cup of Nations campaign.
Despite head coach Pape Thiaw receiving a suspension from CAF, he remains eligible to lead a squad featuring significant top-flight European experience.
Senegal line up in a compact 4-3-3 that relies heavily on physical conditioning and disciplined pressing. Sadio Mane remains the primary creative hub, dropping deep to link play and feed the direct running of Nicolas Jackson.
Defensively, Kalidou Koulibaly anchors a rigid backline that will prove tough to break down.
Their tournament hopes rest entirely on whether their defensive structure can withstand Norway's sustained attacking pressure. Because there’s little chance they’ll trouble France.
Senegal Predicted Lineup (4-3-3): Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Diarra, I. Gueye, P. Gueye; Ndiaye, Jackson, Mane.
- Tipstrr Verdict: BUST! They are structurally sound, but they lack the reliable offensive output required to match Norway across 90 minutes.
READ MORE: Why the expanded 2026 World Cup offers an enhanced betting opportunity
Iraq
- Odds to win Group I: 50/1 (51.00)
- Odds to win World Cup: 1000/1 (1001.00)
Graham Arnold’s side secured an impressive play-off qualification against the odds in Mexico. Making their first appearance since 1986, Iraq have forged a unified squad built entirely on defensive organisation and a low-block mentality.
Iraq operate a highly compressed 4-5-1 system designed solely to frustrate opponents and keep scorelines tight.
Zidane Iqbal provides the main source of midfield creativity, tasked with launching counter-attacks towards Ali Al Hamadi and Aymen Hussein.
While their defensive shape is commendable, grinding out results against three technically superior opponents over three matches is a tall order.
Iraq Predicted Lineup (4-5-1): Hassan; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Sulaka, Merchas Doski; Youssef Amyn, Iqbal, Al Ammari, Ibrahim Bayesh; Aymen Hussein, Al Hamadi.
- Tipstrr Verdict: BUST! A great qualification story, but they simply do not have the technical quality to consistently compete at this level.
Group I Prediction
- France
- Norway
- Senegal
- Iraq
France are operating on a completely different level to the rest of the section and should comfortably secure top spot. The pivotal fixture arrives on June 22 when Norway meet Senegal; expect Erling Haaland's physical presence to eventually break down the Senegalese low block, securing the runner-up spot for the Scandinavians. Iraq will defend stubbornly but likely face three defeats.