World Cup Preview: Group I
As we get set to welcome the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we're previewing each of the tournament's twelve groups through the Ligue 1 McDonald's lens, continuing with Group I: France, Iraq, Norway and Senegal.
FRANCE
FIFA Ranking: 3
Current Ligue 1 McDonald’s players:
Besides the Paris Saint-Germain quintet of Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Lucas Hernandez and Warren Zaïre-Emery, RC Lens' Robin Risser is a part of the squad for the first time ever, and is joined by Maghnes Akliouche (AS Monaco) and Brice Samba (Stade Rennais). While the Parisians figure to be integral to Les Bleus' ambitions, the others will look to contribute when called upon, and are a part of a squad who have almost all spent some time in the French top flight.
Tournament outlook:
Truthfully, anything less than the title would register as a disappointment on some level for France. After reaching the final in each of the last two editions of the World Cup, they'll be eager to send longtime manager Deschamps off in style, but will first have to negotiate a very tricky group with two very dangerous opponents and an Iraq side which will play with little fear.
Ligue 1 legend: Kylian Mbappé, AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain
Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Olivier Giroud, and even Deschamps himself can all stake their claim to this title, but Mbappé, despite his controversial departure from the capital side, is more than deserving of this honor given his goalscoring record and raft of titles.
Dembélé & Doué approve that Olise banger 🇫🇷👏💥 pic.twitter.com/VzTkRx0ruU
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 8, 2026
IRAQ
FIFA Ranking: 57
Current Ligue 1 McDonald’s players:
Despite a rich footballing tradition, no Iraqi player has ever played for a team in the French top flight.
Tournament outlook:
Despite a team that impressed mightily in reaching the tournament proper, beating Bolivia in the intercontinental playoffs, Iraq may be resigned to just making up the numbers in such a tough group.
Ligue 1 legend: N/A
💥 Alors qu'il fête ce samedi ses 42 ans, on se refait son but inscrit face à l'@ASSEofficiel le 14 avril 2001 !
𝐉𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐮𝐱 𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧-𝐀𝐫𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐢𝐬𝐞 🎉 pic.twitter.com/S7KC0ydzAX— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 24, 2022
NORWAY
FIFA Ranking: 31
Current Ligue 1 McDonald’s players:
With Aron Dønnum of Toulouse FC not selected, there are no current Ligue 1 McDonald's players in the Norway squad, but former Rennes defender Leo Østigard has been called up, as Patrick Berg, who spent a solitary season in Lens five years ago.
Tournament outlook:
With the goalscoring prowess of Erling Haaland and the midfield guile of Martin Odegaard, it's hard not to see Norway as one of the tournament's most potentially dangerous sides, despite their somewhat modest ranking. Their impressive qualifying campaign is strong evidence of this as well, and they'll have every ambition of progressing from the group, with the third match against France looming large.
Ligue 1 legend: John Arne Riise, AS Monaco
Riise may be better known for his subsequent trophy-laden spell at Liverpool, where he played more than three hundred times, but his emergence in the Principality did much to usher in the concept of the modern fullback. Pacy and energetic and blessed with a powerful shot, Riise would win the league with Monaco and he remains his country's record appearance maker.
Senegal World Cup call! 🇸🇳😍 pic.twitter.com/pN5tHQ0M5v
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 21, 2026
SENEGAL
FIFA Ranking: 15
Current Ligue 1 McDonald’s players:
An impressive eight players have been called up for the Lions of Teranga: The Monaco duo of Krépin Diatta and Lamine Camara, Lyon defender Moussa Niakhaté, OGC Nice goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf, Le Havre's Mory Diaw, Nice defender Antoine Mendy, and the forwards Ibrahim Mbaye (Paris Saint-Germain) and Bamba Dieng (FC Lorient). Key players like Idrissa Gueye, Sadio Mané and Kalidou Koulibaly have all also played in France in their careers.
Tournament outlook:
After winning (or not) the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Senegal are on a mission to prove their level, and for an ageing core, this represents a potential last chance at making an impression in this tournament. Solid defensively, hard-working in midfield and full of plenty of attacking flair, this side isn't to be taken lightly and will be targeting at least the quarterfinals.
Ligue 1 legend: Souleymane Diawara - OGC Nice, Olympique de Marseille, Le Havre, Sochaux, Bordeaux
This category is nearly as difficult to pick as France -- Gueye had massively successful spells with both LOSC and Paris Saint-Germain, and Souleymane Camara played more than 400 times in Ligue 1 alone. But Diawara -- a two-time nominee to the team of the year and winner of as many league titles, is perhaps more deserving for his steadfast play in a career than spanned nearly two decades.
