World Cup 2026 Day 6: Group I Recap

Day 6 of the 2026 World Cup saw the squads in Group I take the field for the first time this tournament, which brought some of the biggest stars in the game to center stage. Erling Haaland made his World Cup debut in Norway's return to the tournament, where they faced the Lions of Mesopotamia of Iraq, who were making their first appearance in 40 years. And then one of the favorites, France and Kylian Mbappé squared off against Sadio Mane and Senegal in a re-match of the 2002 thriller that saw the West Africans shock the defending champs and Zinedine Zidane. 

General view inside the stadium before the match

Mike Segar

World Cup Group I - Matchday 1

France 3 - 1 Senegal

Though a solid first-half performance from Senegal took things into the half-time break tied at 0, you knew France were eventually going to find another level and put Senegal under pressure in the final 45 minutes.

Michael Olise got an opportunity to break the deadlock in the 53rd minute, but Senegalese goalkeeper Édouard Mendy came off his line to cut down the angle and make the save. In the 57th minute, Kylian Mbappé found himself in a similar position to Olise's chance, but Mendy was once again ready for the challenge. 

Then, in the 66th minute, France finally found their way past Mendy by way of Kylian Mbappé, who received a pass into the box from Michael Olise to Mendy's left. Mbappé waited for the pass with the defender on his back, and swept the ball into the back of the net with the first touch of his right foot. The goal puts Mbappé level with Olivier Giroud for the most goals in French national team history (57). 

In the 82nd minute, France doubled their lead thanks to Paris Saint-Germain's Bradley Barcola.  Barcola received the ball on a breakaway from Adrien Rabiot, which put the 23-year-old PSG substitute in on goal with just the keeper to beat. Mendy came off his line to try and keep Senegal within just one goal, but Barcola calmly chipped the ball over the out-rushing keeper and watched it bounce into an open net, giving France a late 2-0 lead. 

France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their third goal with Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde and Rayan Cherki

Dylan Martinez

Senegal would get one back in the 95th minute thanks to a right-footed blast from Ibrahim Mbaye, which stung the gloves of French keeper Mike Maignan, but managed to squeak by the AC Milan goalkeeper and into the back of the net, erasing his clean sheet and giving Senegal a glimmer of hope. 

But just about a minute later, it was Kylian Mbappé once again finding the back of the net to put an end to Senegal's hopes, this time with a right-footed shot from about 30 yards out that evaded the outstretched gloves of a diving Édouard Mendy. Mbappé's second goal of the night moves him to 3rd place all-time in goals scored at the World Cup, and moves him into sole position as France's leading goalscorer. 

Norway 4 - 1 Iraq 

The 2nd fixture of the day in Group I featured two teams making their return to the World Cup after long absences.  Norway, one of people's favorites as a “Dark Horse’ in this year's tournament, is back at the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, while the team lining up across from them, Iran, is back on the World Cup stage for the first time in 40 years. 

General view inside the stadium before the match

Brian Snyder

One of the reasons Norway is one of people's favorite ‘Dark Horse’ picks this year is the man leading the attack up top, Erling Haaland.  It only took 29 minutes for Haaland to find his first goal at the World Cup, after making a darting run through the middle of the box and tapping home a pass into the penalty area from David Møller Wolfe. 

In the 39th minute, Iraq found a leveler, their first goal at the World Cup in 40 years. The goal came courtesy of Ayman Hussein, the same player who scored the goal to send the Lions of Mesopotamia to the World Cup in qualifying.

Hussein was posted up in the middle of the penalty area while the ball was out wide with Amir Al-Ammari, who chipped the ball into the middle where Hussein awaited. Hussein rose over his defender and powerfully headed the ball to the far post and past Norway keeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland to level the game at one. 

Iraq's Aymen Hussein looks dejected after scoring an own goal past Jalal Hassan and the fourth goal for Norway

Pilar Olivares

The excitement for fans of Iraq didn't last long, however, as just 4 minutes later, Erling Haaland scored his 2nd goal of the game to restore Norway's lead. A lackadaisical back-pass from Iraq's Zaid Tahseen put goalkeeper Jalal Hassan in trouble with the world’s best goalscorer, in Erling Haaland, closing him down.  

Hassan tried to boot the ball away to safety, but his attempt at clearing was blocked by Haaland and deflected right into the back of the net, giving Norway a 2-1 lead just before half-time. 

Norway would add a 3rd goal in the 78th thanks to a towering header from Leo Østigard, which was made possible by an inviting corner-kick from Arsenal's Martin Ødegaard. Norway would add a 4th and final nail to the coffin in the 96th minute after a scramble in the box led to the ball finding the back of the net. 

Iraq's Aymen Hussein scores an own goal and Norway's fourth

Brian Snyder

Kristoffer Ajer played the ball into the box from a position out on the wing, which found Erling Haaland at the back-post,  Haaland headed the ball back across the face of goal where Kristian Thorstvedt was waiting and covered by two defenders and a keeper, but the ball somehow managed to find its way into the back of the net amidst the chaos, eventually being lababled as an own-goal by Ayman Hussein to give Norway the 4-1 win. 

Day 6, Group I, Round-up:

The stars were out in full force in Group I! France's Mbappé and Norway's Haaland both had braces to power their nations to wins in their first games. This leaves Senegal and Iraq at the bottom of group I. Will we see a bit more parity, or will the European giants continue to lead this group?

Day Seven is the final four games of matchday one! It's only been a week, but this tournament has captivated the World. Will that continue on the final day of the first matchday?