Norway and Senegal Face Crucial Group I Clash at 2026 World Cup

Norway and Senegal are set to face off in a pivotal Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, both teams desperate for points after contrasting starts. Norway enter the fixture with confidence following a commanding 4-1 victory over Iraq in their opener, while Senegal are seeking redemption after a 3-1 loss to France.

The match, scheduled for June 23, 2026, is being broadcast live on TRT Spor with a kickoff time of 03:00 local time. Norway's strong offensive performance against Iraq—featuring two goals from Erling Haaland—has placed them in a favorable position, but they are aware that a win would all but secure their place in the knockout rounds. Senegal, meanwhile, know that a second consecutive defeat could seriously jeopardize their World Cup campaign.

Senegal's reserve goalkeeper Mory Diaw made headlines ahead of the match by downplaying Norway's star striker, stating, "Haaland can't do anything alone without his teammates. So we didn't feel the need to prepare a special plan for him. We prepared for Norway, not Haaland. Now we are waiting for them." This comment underscores Senegal's focus on collective team performance rather than individual threats.

Both teams are expected to field strong lineups. Norway's probable starting eleven includes Nyland, Ryerson (later replaced by Marcus Pedersen early in the match), Ajer, Heggem, Wolfe, Odegaard, Berge, Aursnes, Nusa, Sorloth, and Haaland. Senegal is likely to start with Mendy in goal, supported by Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf, Idrissa Gueye, Pape Gueye, Camara, Ismaila Sarr, Mane, and Jackson. Galatasaray’s Ismail Jakobs begins on the bench for Senegal.

The game promises to be an intense battle, with Norway aiming to impose their direct, offensive style, while Senegal will rely on pace, physical strength, and rapid transitions. Early action has seen Senegal threaten through Nicolas Jackson and Idrissa Gueye, while Norway's Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa have also tested the opposing defense. An early substitution saw Julian Ryerson replaced by Marcus Pedersen in the 12th minute after an apparent injury.

Off the pitch, the tournament has been marred by an infrastructure scandal: a water pipe burst during Norway's match against Iraq, flooding the pitch and delaying play. Additionally, the Senegal and Uzbekistan national teams underwent unprecedented security screenings upon arriving in the United States for the World Cup.