Mbappé and Haaland to Clash at the World Cup – Is Group I the “Group of Death”?

The World Cup draw result was revealed last Friday, sparking immediate reactions and heated discussions among media, pundits, and fans. When debating which group deserves the title of “Group of Death”, the matchups in Group I have drawn attention. The group features France, Norway, Senegal, and the winner of the intercontinental playoff (Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq). The biggest highlight is undoubtedly the showdown between French forward Kylian Mbappe and Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.

Both superstars are in top form this year. Mbappe, who scored a hat-trick in the final of the Qatar World Cup, has joined Real Madrid. He has a record of 25 goals and provided 4 assists in 20 matches this season, while also scoring 5 goals in European qualifying. Norway, meanwhile, is led by Manchester City’s prolific striker Haaland. He has scored 20 goals and added 3 assists in 19 Premier League matches this season, becoming the fastest player ever to reach 100 goals in the league. He also scored 16 times in World Cup qualifying matches. The playoff between these two rising football superstars promises to be one of the most eye-catching matches of the tournament.

Although France and Norway each have star players leading their squads, the African team Senegal, which is also in Group I, should not be underestimated. Senegal is ranked 19th in the world; they have also defeated France in the 2002 World Cup and advanced to the quarterfinals. They remain one of Africa’s most consistent teams. Matches between France, Senegal, and Norway are expected to become the most anticipated ones in the 2026 World Cup. As for the final team in Group I, that will only be determined at the end of March 2026 after the intercontinental playoff.