French superstar Mbappé and Haaland, whose national teams are drawn in Group I of the 2026 World Cup, are expected to battle for the tournament’s Golden Boot, according to French coach Didier Deschamps.
France and Norway, featuring Mbappé and Haaland, will join Senegal in the opening stage of the World Cup, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, after the official draw in Washington this Friday.
The group stage features a high-profile clash between Real Madrid’s Mbappé and Manchester City’s Haaland, two of the world’s most prolific scorers, making this one of the tournament’s most anticipated battles.
Deschamps commented:
“It’s a beautiful contest. They are already competing from afar, but there are also many other important players on their teams and on ours. Both are world-class and will fight until the end for the top scorer title.”
Mbappé and Haaland : Norway’s Rising Threat
While much attention will focus on Mbappé and Haaland, Deschamps emphasized Norway’s overall strength. The team qualified comfortably for its first World Cup since 1998.
“Beyond Haaland, players like Alexander Sorloth and others competing for top European clubs make Norway very competitive. It’s a strong squad that cannot be underestimated,” he said.
A Tough Group
Deschamps described Group I as “solid and compact,” noting that the fourth team will emerge from a March playoff involving Iraq, Suriname, and Bolivia.
“With Senegal and Norway in the group, it’s clearly one of the toughest. But it’s the World Cup — we know what challenges await,” he added.
No Time for Nostalgia
Deschamps also reflected on the fact that this North American World Cup will likely be his last tournament in charge.
“I don’t dwell on nostalgia. I feel emotions, of course, but when preparing the team, my focus is on guiding our players for success in every match,” he concluded.
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