FIFA World Cup: Dembélé hat-trick seals France’s perfect group stage campaign

France underlined their status as one of the favourites to lift the 2026 FIFA World Cup after cruising to a commanding 4-1 victory over Norway in their final Group I match at Boston Stadium on Friday night. 

Inspired by a sensational first-half hat-trick from Ousmane Dembélé, Les Bleus completed the group stage with a perfect record, winning all three matches to finish top of the standings.

With both teams already assured of places in the Round of 32, the contest determined who would top the group.

Norway manager Ståle Solbakken opted to rest several key players, including Erling Haaland, while France made only a handful of changes despite the absence of head coach Didier Deschamps, who was away following the passing of his mother.

France wasted no time asserting their dominance.

Kylian Mbappé nearly opened the scoring within the opening minute, rattling the crossbar before turning provider six minutes later.

The captain released Dembélé on the right wing, and the Paris Saint-Germain forward cut inside before firing a superb right-footed strike across goalkeeper Egil Selvik to make it 1-0.

The French attack continued to overwhelm Norway’s reshuffled defence, and Dembélé doubled the lead in the 20th minute.

Again supplied by Mbappé, the Ballon d’Or winner displayed remarkable composure, curling a precise effort into the far corner from outside the penalty area.

Norway responded immediately through Thelo Aasgaard, whose well-taken finish reduced the deficit to 2-1 after an excellent move involving Andreas Schjelderup.

However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Dembélé completed one of the fastest hat-tricks in FIFA World Cup history in the 32nd minute.

Receiving a clever pass from Aurélien Tchouaméni, the winger calmly bent another clinical finish beyond Selvik to cap a magnificent individual performance.

France remained in control after the break, although Norway were handed a golden opportunity to narrow the gap when Oscar Bobb won a penalty early in the second half.

Jørgen Strand Larsen stepped forward, but his weak spot-kick was comfortably saved by Mike Maignan, who became the first French goalkeeper to stop a World Cup penalty during normal play since Joël Bats against Brazil in 1986.

The missed penalty effectively ended Norway's hopes of mounting a comeback.

France controlled possession for much of the remaining period, limiting their opponents to few meaningful opportunities while continuing to threaten on the counterattack through Mbappé and substitute Bradley Barcola.

Their dominance was rewarded in stoppage time when Barcola delivered an inviting cross for fellow substitute Désiré Doué, who rose highest to head home France's fourth goal and complete an emphatic victory.

Although Mbappé did not find the net, the Real Madrid superstar still produced an outstanding display with two assists and constant attacking menace.

The evening, however, unquestionably belonged to Dembélé, whose clinical finishing and intelligent movement dismantled Norway’s defence and reinforced his growing reputation as one of the tournament's standout performers.

France advance to the knockout stage with maximum points, immense confidence and one of the tournament’s most feared attacks after scoring freely throughout the group stage.

Norway, despite the heavy defeat, also progress after earlier victories secured qualification and will look to regroup before facing Ivory Coast in the Round of 32.

The Blues, the comprehensive victory serves as another powerful statement of intent as they continue their pursuit of a third FIFA World Cup title, having previously lifted football’s greatest prize in 1998 and 2018.

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