Sports
Predicted Starting XIs for World Cup Group I Match
One of the most exciting games at this year’s FIFA World Cup thus far takes place on Friday when France meets Norway in the final matchday of Group I. The European nations collide at Gillette Stadium, battling to top their group.
Erling Haaland and the Vikings have lived up to their billing as dark horses with a 4-1 win over Iraq and a 3-2 victory against Senegal. Kylian Mbappe and Les Bleus have looked the real deal, beating Senegal 3-1 and Iraq 3-0.
It means the Norwegians will be eyeing victory over the French to steal first place in their group. Both countries are already through to the Round of 32.
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Match: |
Information: |
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Date |
Friday, June 26, 2026 |
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Kick-off Time |
15:00 EDT Local Time (20:00 BST) |
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Venue |
Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough |
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Competition |
FIFA World Cup 2026, Group I (Matchday 3) |
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Referee |
Michael Oliver (English) |
Norway
Stale Solbakken’s men sealed their place in the knockout rounds with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Senegal. Manchester City striker Haaland was at the double as his side made it six points from their two opening games.
Norway can really put the cat amongst the pigeons with a win over favourites France and finish at the top of Group I. That will be a tough ask, though, as they haven’t beaten the two-time world champions since August 2010.
Team News
Solbakken is likely to be without Borussia Dortmund defender Julian Ryerson, who picked up a thigh injury in the win over Senegal. That will be one change that has to be made, and it will force their manager to rotate for the first time at this World Cup.
Torbjorn Heggem’s fitness will be assessed ahead of the game after coming off late on against Senegal. That might mean Solbakken tinkers with his defence, but Haaland will undoubtedly continue to lead the line, having bagged four goals in two games.
Predicted Starting 11
There should be two changes to Norway’s backline, with Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who scored against Senegal, replacing Ryerson. Leo Ostigard could come in for Heggem as he did at the end of their win over the Senegalese.
Haaland should be joined by Antonio Nusa in attack, as well as Fulham’s Oscar Bobb, to give Alexander Sorloth a rest. Solbakken will want to field a team that can spring a surprise and beat France.
Expected XI: Nyland; Pedersen, Ajer, Ostigard, Wolfe; Odegaard, Berge, Berg; Bobb, Haaland, Nusa
France
Of the bookies’ favourites to win the tournament, France are looking the strongest side. A slightly underwhelming first-half performance against Senegal aside, they have been superb, and Mbappe is in red-hot form.
Mbappe, like Haaland, has found the net four times in two games, and he’s not the only French attacker shining. Les Bleus are currently top of Group I, ahead of Norway with a superior goal difference of just one.
Team News
Deschamps will miss the game against Norway after the death of his mother, leaving his assistant Guy Stephan to lead the team. He will have to decide which of Paris Saint-Germain’s attacking pair, Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, should start.
Manchester United-linked Aurelien Tchouameni lost his place in midfield to Manu Kone in the victory over Iraq. He might have a fight on his hands to reclaim it, as well as Theo Hernandez, whom Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne displaced at left-back.
Predicted Starting 11
William Saliba returned and played the full 90 minutes in the win against Iraq, and he should keep his place against Norway. Digne fared well in that game and could get the nod over Hernandez again.
Kone’s performance earned praise, and he may have done enough to continue in midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot. In attack, Barcola has outperformed Doue thus far and should get a chance to prove he deserves to be a starter.
Expected XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Rabiot, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
Sports
Arsenal Ready to Sign Morten Hjulmand After Morgan Rogers
Arsenal are active in the race to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Morten Hjulmand this summer, with an update emerging from A Bola on his future.
It has been a relatively quiet start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal, with it being clear that they only need to add a couple of players of real quality to improve a top team who are already Premier League champions and were a penalty shootout away from winning the Champions League.
While the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester United have already made signings 10 days after the window officially opened, the Gunners are yet to complete their first new signing.
Piero Hincapie has completed his move to the Emirates on a permanent deal, but he was with the club already last season.
Arsenal have been in talks to sign 16-year-old Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga, but they are yet to agree a fee with the League One outfit for the teenager’s services.
The Gunners are also expected to make an official move soon for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, who is currently representing England at the 2026 World Cup.
As well as the wings, it seems as though Arsenal are considering signing another central midfielder too.
Arsenal ‘Active’ in Morten Hjulmand Pursuit
According to A Bola, the pathway for Hjulmand to make a move to the Premier League season is ‘active’, with his chances of returning to Serie A narrowing because of the price involved for a transfer.
There had been links with a move to AC Milan for the Denmark international following the appointment of his former boss Ruben Amorim at the San Siro, but the Serie A giants are currently prioritising other positions.
Juventus have also pulled out of the race, leaving Inter Milan and Napoli as the only clubs who would be able to afford the 27-year-old, who has an €80m (£70m) release clause.
However, Arsenal are considering a move for the ‘absolute monster’ midfielder, while Manchester City and their sporting director Hugo Viana, who used to be at the Portuguese outfit, are big fans of the player.
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Hjulmand Wants to Join Arsenal
A Bola state that Hjulmand would fulfill a ‘childhood dream’ by playing for Arsenal, and it would be no surprise if they are his number one pick given where the club is right now too.
Not only would the 27-year-old significantly strengthen Arsenal’s central midfield depth given his stature and quality, but he is also known for his leadership skills as he currently captains Sporting.
Arteta is renowned for wanting the right type of character when he is making signings, and the Dane is a player who would seemingly give everything in an Arsenal shirt.
The Gunners may be able to land Hjulmand for a fee lower than his release clause too, with Sporting said to be ready to sell him for a fee of between €40-50m thanks to a personal pact made between the parties last summer.
Sports
Man City Make Enquiry for Manu Kone After Arsenal Agreement
Manchester City have now made contact to sign a player who’s already agreed to join Arsenal this summer.
While their Premier League rivals have sprung into action, it has been a quieter start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal and City.
City are still yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola’s successor at the Etihad, but they have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to complete a mega agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Arsenal probably only need to make some tweaks to their squad after such a successful season, but Mikel Arteta will be looking to add players to his squad that can take them to yet another level next term as they look to defend their Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.
The Gunners look set to add numbers to their attack this summer, with the north Londoners being linked with moves for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez in recent weeks.
Arsenal are also working to find an agreement with Leicester City to sign 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, but it is unclear whether he would be competing in the first-team yet or not if a deal went through.
The Gunners have also been looking at midfield additions for Arteta.
Man City Make Manu Kone Enquiry
According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, posting on X on Thursday evening, Manchester City have now made over signing French midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma.
Even though are now closing in on an agreement to sign England star Anderson, it is being widely reported that they want another central midfielder too, with Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United another name mentioned.
Arsenal themselves are looking to reinforce that position with a lack of quality in depth shown last season when they lost players to injury, with Kone emerging as a target.
Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested that the Gunners were closing in on a deal to sign the 25-year-old with personal terms already agreed for him to move to the Emirates.
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Which Other Midfielders Are Arsenal Targeting?
Kone isn’t the only name reportedly on Arsenal’s central midfield radar this summer, with Alex Scott of Bournemouth someone they like a lot.
GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed the Gunners’ interest in the £80m-rated England international, who the Cherries are desperate to tie down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2028.
Reports in Portugal claim that they are also considering making a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, whose boyhood dream was to play for Arsenal.
Whether the Gunners firm up their reported interest in Kone or not, Arteta and Andrea Berta certainly seem to have other names on their shortlist should Man City swoop in and bring him to the Premier League themselves.
Sports
Trent Alexander-Arnold Could Have Played For the USMNT Instead of England
Trent Alexander-Arnold has long been one of England’s most talented full-backs, but his international career hasn’t always run smoothly under successive Three Lions managers, resulting in his lack of presence at the 2026 World Cup
That awkward relationship with his national side has led some fans down an unusual rabbit hole: could he have actually represented a different country altogether?
The question resurfaced after the Real Madrid man opened up about his family background in an interview, revealing a transatlantic connection that surprised plenty of supporters.
How Trent Alexander-Arnold Was Eligible for Another Nation
The discussion stems from comments back when he was a Liverpool player in 2023. Speaking to Men in Blazers about his mother, who was born in the United States. He explained his fondness for the country, saying:
“The connection is just that my Mum’s American really! I love America, I absolutely love America.”
That maternal link meant Alexander-Arnold was technically eligible to play for the US under FIFA’s nationality rules, which allow players to represent a country through a parent or grandparent’s birthplace, provided they haven’t already been capped elsewhere in a competitive fixture.
Had he picked the USMNT, Trent could be playing a pivotal role in Mauricio Pochettino’s side, rather than watching the competition from home. He’d certainly be a popular figure and the talisman in the American squad.
Why Trent Can’t Switch Allegiance Now
Despite that eligibility, the door is firmly shut. Alexander-Arnold has appeared for England in numerous competitive fixtures, which permanently ties him to the Three Lions under FIFA’s switching regulations. Had his only appearances come in friendlies, a U-turn would theoretically have remained possible, but that ship sailed long ago.
The 24 Players Born in England But Represent Other 2026 World Cup National Teams
England would have an unstoppable starting line-up if these players had chosen to represent the Three Lions
There’s an intriguing family thread running through all this, too. Alexander-Arnold’s mother, Dianne, was born in the United States to his grandmother, Doreen Carling, who was once in a relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson before relocating to New York and marrying there.
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