2026 World Cup Group I Betting Odds

Updated: 08/05/2026 09:54 AM

Widely considered one of the most exciting groups in the competition, the 2026 World Cup Group I betting odds can offer good value for punters with the right information. France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq are the teams in this group, all of which have their own strengths and top players. Keep reading to understand each nation’s strengths and weaknesses, alongside a few tips from our experts at Betpack.

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Teams in Group I – The Group of Death Beckons

Many World Cup betting experts will tell you that Group I is the Group of Death, and it is hard to argue against that. France is one of the favourites to even lift the trophy at the end of the tournament, but Haaland-led Norway and Senegal’s Sadio Mane may present a few surprises in the group stage. Here is an overview of each team in the group.

🇫🇷 France – A Star-Studded Team Expected to Go All The Way

There is not really any special introduction needed when it comes to France. This is a nation led by Kylian Mbappé, who will surely want to bounce back from a disappointing campaign with Real Madrid. Ballon d’Or Winner Dembele will also want to impress on the biggest of stages. France doesn’t seem to have a weak link, with explosive fullbacks, solid centre-backs like Saliba and Konate, and silky midfielders like Warren Zaïre-Emery and Rabiot providing a balanced squad. Expect a dominant, fast-paced, and possession-based football in all matches France play.

🇸🇳 Senegal – A Counter-Attacking Football With Fast Wingers

Senegal is a nation that doesn’t get the praise or attention it deserves, in our opinion. This is considered the golden generation of Senegal, led by stars Sadio Mane, Kalidou Koulibaly, Nickolas Jackson, Pape Matar Sarr, and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. This is a great spine to have in any starting 11 in the world. Head coach Pape Thiaw has a pragmatic approach to games by relying on defensive solidity and counter-attacks to break down opponents. Don’t expect many goals when Senegal play, but they have every chance of destroying other teams with the speed and clinical finishing of Mane and Jackson, among others.

🇳🇴 Norway – Young Stars Seeking to Make a Great First Impression on the Big Stage

Norway enters the World Cup for the first time in 28 years, and now it seems like they have every chance of causing big upsets. There is no need to mention the goal machine Erling Haaland or the creative force Martin Odegaard. Don’t mistake Norway as a two-man team, as this generation seems more complete than ever. Antonio Nusa, Oscar Boob, Alexander Sorloth, and Julian Ryerson are other players who have contributed to Norway's dominant qualifying stage, where they won all eight matches. Norway surely has the tools and the attacking quality to provide both entertainment and results, so we may have a dark horse for the competition on our hands for the tournament.

🇮🇶 Iraq – More Than Just a “Filler” Team

Iraq is the nation that comes to mind when we talk about underdog odds, but they are far from being just spectators in this World Cup. Under the guidance of Spanish manager Jesus Casas, they have been one of the better nations in Asia. They dramatically secured a World Cup ticket by winning the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Off tournament. Other nations in this group have better squads, so Iraq will likely adopt a more pragmatic approach, seeking to frustrate opponents and capitalise on mistakes and counter-attacks.

WC26 Group I Winner Betting Odds

France may be the most obvious choice for winners when it comes to World Cup group stage betting, but we have a feeling it won’t be that simple for Deschamps’ men. Here is how different bookies construct the odds for the Group I winner.

Team	Biggerz	Celsius	BetiBet	Everygame	N1bet
France	1.40	1.45	1.38	1.40	1.42
Norway	3.75	4.10	3.60	3.85	4.00
Senegal	8.00	9.50	7.80	8.50	8.50
Iraq	40.00	55.00	35.00	45.00	51.00

Betpack Expert Tip: France To Suffer in the Group?

Every bookmaker seems to label France as the clear favourite to finish first, but we don’t think they will have it that straightforward. Norway deserves much more attention. Just think about Haaland – you have a player who basically scores in every game, so that always gives you a chance, especially considering the form Konate has been in this season. Our expert tip for the bravest would be: utilise the good odds for Norway finishing first and back them to do a surprise in this group by overcoming France.

Mert Feyzioglu

Sports Betting Analyst

Betting on Group I Qualifying Teams

Iraq is expected to leave the tournament after the group stage, but the rest of the outright odds give every other nation a chance to progress to the knockout stages. Here are a few bookies with decent odds about qualifying teams from Group I.

Team	Biggerz	Celsius	BetiBet	Everygame	N1bet
France	1.01	1.04	1.02	1.04	1.04
Norway	1.18	1.20	1.15	1.18	1.20
Senegal	1.45	1.50	1.42	1.45	1.50
Iraq	3.80	4.00	3.75	4.00	4.00

Other Possible Bets on Group I

If you want something more specific than the group winner betting markets, we have just the right bookmakers for you. Here are some of the alternative bets you can place for Group I.

Market	Favorite	Odds (Biggerz)
To Finish Bottom	Iraq	1.15
Highest Scoring Team	France	1.60
Top Group Goalscorer	Kylian Mbappé	2.80

World Cup Group I Matches: Dates, Kick-Off Times & Odds

All the matches from Group I will take place in a 10-day span, starting from June 16 and going all the way to June 26. Here is every detail about these games.

Date	Match	Venue	Odds (1/X/2)
June 16, 2026	France vs. Senegal	MetLife Stadium	1.42/4.20/6.70
June 16, 2026	Iraq vs. Norway	Gillette Stadium	7.80/5.70/1.27
June 22, 2026	France vs. Iraq	Lincoln Financial Field	1.11/8.60/18.00
June 22, 2026	Norway vs. Senegal	MetLife Stadium	2.06/3.40/3.45
June 26, 2026	Norway vs. France	Gillette Stadium	4.20/3.45/1.82
June 26, 2026	Senegal vs. Iraq	BMO Field	1.56/4.00/5.40

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Anyone Beat France in Group I?

France is the clear favourite in this group, but that doesn’t mean they will have their victories served on a platter. Norway and Senegal are more than capable of causing major upsets, so we might be in for a few surprises.

What is the Best bet to Place on Group I?

This depends on your preferences, budget and experience. If you are just getting started with sports betting and you are on a limited budget, then simple outright bets like group winner are maybe your best picks.

Who Will be the Top Goalscorer in Group I?

There are so many names to choose from, but Mbappé and Haaland are two clear early favourites. We’d say it is a coin toss between the two, with Mbappé maybe having a slight edge due to the favourite status France hold.