The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four. That’s an increase of 16 clubs over the 2022 version of the World Cup. With that, the number of groups has increased from eight in 2022. Because of the increased number of teams, the “Group of Death,” a phrase coined to describe the most difficult group to win at the World Cup, has become less competitive. Still, there is a “Group of Death” ahead of the 2026 World Cup, and that is Group I, which features France, Norway, Senegal, and the intercontinental path 2 winner (either Bolivia, Suriname, or Iraq).
With more teams, this year’s event will feature 104 total games, a massive increase from the usual 64. Each team will play its three group opponents in a round-robin format. The top two group teams advance to the Round of 32. The eight third-place clubs across the 12 groups also head into that round. When the Round of 32 begins, each game will be an elimination game.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The event kicks off on Thursday, June 11, in Mexico, and concludes on Sunday, July 19, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. In total, 16 cities will host at least one 2026 World Cup match throughout the tournament.
Below, we look at the odds, picks, and predictions for the 2026 World Cup “Group of Death.”
The No. 3 ranked team in the world, France, is looking for its third World Cup title, and first since 2018 when the team prevailed 4-2 over Croatia. France made the 2022 final, but lost to Argentina on penalty shots (4-2) after the match ended in a 3-3 tie. The club lost to Spain 2-1 in the semifinal round of the 2024 Euros. France is part of Group I with Senegal, Norway, and an as-yet-unnamed playoff club
Unsurprisingly, Kylian Mbappe is the key player for France. The winner of the Golden Boot at the 2022 World Cup with eight goals. He scored a hat trick in the final of that tournament. He also contributed to the team’s 2018 World Cup championship, scoring four goals. The 27-year-old has a chance to break the World Cup goal-scoring record this year. He has 12 career goals, four behind Miroslav Klose of Germany, who played 24 World Cup matches between 2002 and 2014.
The other player to watch for France is Ousmane Dembele. The 28-year-old won the Ballon d’Or in 2025 with Paris Saint-Germain after winning the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and the Coupe de France. Like Mbappe, he was a member of France’s 2018 and 2022 World Cup teams.
The No. 32 ranked team in the world, Norway, has better odds to win Group I than the higher-ranked team from Senegal. The 2026 Norway squad is the first team to qualify for the World Cup in 27 years for the nation. Norway has played in the World Cup four times, making it out of the Group Stage in 1938 and 1998. In 1998, the team reached the Round of 16, losing to Italy 1-0.
Norway has been criticized for its style of play in the past, but the team has gelled into an effective and dangerous unit under manager Ståle Solbakken. “Solbakken has built a tremendous culture within the team,” former Spurs and Norway goalkeeper Erik Thorstvedt told ESPN. “They’ve come through a lot of criticism, and that’s undoubtedly made them stronger.”
The players to watch for Norway at the World Cup are Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard. Haaland, a superstar for Manchester City, is the fastest player to 100 goals in that team’s history (111 games) and holds the record for quickest to 50 goals in the Champions League (49 games). He has scored 55 goals in 48 games for Norway. Ødegaard, who plays for Arsenal, has been limited by injuries this year.
Senegal won the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations tournament and has now qualified for three straight World Cups. In 2018, Senegal did not advance past the Group Stage, but the club reached the Round of 16 in 2022, losing to England 3-0. The team’s best finish came at the 2002 World Cup, where they made the quarterfinals.
Senegal is currently ranked No. 12 in the world. The team was recently stripped of its 2026 AFCON title, and that win went to Morocco after an investigation into the team walking off the pitch after Morocco was awarded a contentious penalty. AFCON rules prevent a team from leaving the field before the end of regulation time.
Sadio Mané is the player to watch for Senegal. He has a Premier League title and a Champions League crown to his name while playing for Liverpool FC. He is also Senegal’s all-time leading scorer with 51 goals.
France is the betting pick to win the 2026 World Cup “Group of Death”
After you are all up to speed in relation to the latest World Cup 2026 news and notes coming from the soccer world, make sure to check out the excellent array of info for you at SBS. For additional insights into the topic covered here, the soccer betting sites guide has your back on all of the most recent news and betting markets coming from the world of soccer. Bettors should also check out our guide to the best betting sites and be sure to check out our betting picks for the 2026 World Cup tournament.
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