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HIGHLIGHTS | FIFA World Cup 2026, Day 16: France thrash Norway on Dembele hat-trick; Egypt enter knockouts for first time in history

Belgium booked their place in the World Cup last 32, Senegal strengthened their chances of progressing as one of the eight best third-placed teams, and Cape Verde earned a Round of 32 date with Argentina.
France's Ousmane Dembele celebrates with Kylian Mbappe, right, after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and France in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 26, 2026.
France's Ousmane Dembele celebrates with Kylian Mbappe, right, after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and France in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 26, 2026.(Photo | AP)
TNIE online desk
Summary

Matchday 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup saw Ousmane Dembele display his Ballon d'Or brilliance with a stunning first-half hat-trick in France's 4-1 win over Norway.

Cape Verde wrote another chapter in their fairytale debut World Cup campaign as they battled into the knockout rounds for the first time to set up a dream showdown with Lionel Messi's Argentina.

Elsewhere, Egypt advanced past the group stage at the World Cup for the first time while Iran, which had a potential late winning goal called back due to an offside, will have to wait one day to find out its fate after the two teams played to a 1-1 draw.

Two-time winners Uruguay became the highest ranked side to crash out in the group stages as the 1-0 defeat to Spain rounded off a miserable tournament for Marcelo Bielsa and his squad.

France squad look to do grieving Deschamps proud in final World Cup group game

France star Aurelien Tchouameni said his team were aiming to make Didier Deschamps "as proud as possible" as they go into their final World Cup group game against Norway on Friday without their coach, who has returned home to attend his mother's funeral.

Pride flags allowed at Egypt-Iran World Cup clash: FIFA

FIFA has reiterated that LGBTQ rainbow flags will be allowed inside Seattle's Lumen Field on Friday when the stadium hosts Iran and Egypt's World Cup G game, despite objections from both nation's football federations.

Friday's game is part of city-wide events to celebrate Pride in Seattle, and was designated as the "Pride Match" by local officials before the identities of the teams involved was known.

Iranian and Egyptian officials have both raised objections to the Seattle Pride celebrations around their fixture.

Homosexuality is illegal in Iran under Islamic law and can be punishable by death. In Egypt, homosexuality is often penalized under vaguely worded laws prohibiting "debauchery."

FIFA said in a statement on Thursday that the LGBTQ rainbow flag would be allowed inside the stadium.

"The FIFA World Cup 2026 is an inclusive event," a spokesperson said. "Fans of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome.

"Messages supporting human rights -- such as rainbow flags and other symbols representing gender identity -- are permitted inside stadiums under FIFA's code of conduct."

List of teams qualified for World Cup last 32

Mexico, South Africa, Switzerland, Canada, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Morocco, United States, Germany, Ivory Coast, Ecuador, Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, France, Norway, Argentina, Colombia, Australia

Spain target Group H top spot as Uruguay face must-win clash

Senegal vs Iraq line-ups

SENEGAL: Diaw, Jacobs, Niakhate, Seck, Diatta, Diarra, Idrissa Gueye, Mane, Camara, Mbaye, Ismaila Sarr.

IRAQ: Basil, Doski, Sulaka, Hashim, Putros, Al-Ammari, Qasem, Iqbal, Bayesh, Jasim, Al-Hamadi.

Norway vs France lineups

France: Maignan; Upamecano, Kounde, Hernandez, Lacroix; Son, Tchouameni; Dembele, Mbappe, Olise, God

Norway: Selvik; Ostigard, Bjorkan, Falchener; Berg, Aursnes, Thorstvedt, Aasgaard, Schjelderup, Bobb; Larsen

Ousmane Dembele gives France early 1-0 lead over Norway

Thelo Aasgaard finds the equaliser for Norway

Dembele strikes again, fires France into 2-1 lead

Dembele bags hat-trick as France race to 3-1 lead

Dembele hits hat-trick as France thrash second-string Norway at World Cup

Ousmane Dembele scored one of the earliest hat-tricks in World Cup history on Friday as the Ballon d'Or winner starred in France's 4-1 win over a second-string Norway, while Erling Haaland watched on from the bench.

Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele opened the scoring in the seventh minute at the Gillette Stadium near Boston, struck again on 20 minutes and, after Thelo Aasgaard had pulled one back, he made it 3-1 in the 32nd minute.

The only player to complete a hat-trick earlier in a World Cup match is Erich Probst, who got three inside the first 24 minutes for Austria against Czechoslovakia in 1954.

Dembele moves on to four goals at the tournament after also scoring in the 3-0 win over Iraq on Monday, and his display here will perhaps ease some of the pressure on captain Kylian Mbappe to always be France's match-winner.

Desire Doue completed the scoring late on, and the victory allowed France to end the group stage with the maximum nine points -- they have scored 10 goals in three games and advance as Group I winners.

READ FULL STORY HERE

Gueye double keeps Senegal's World Cup hopes alive

Senegal became the first African side to score five goals in a World Cup match, a stunning double by Pape Gueye inspiring them to a 5-0 win over 10-man Iraq in their final Group I match on Friday.

Senegal also boosted their chances of progressing to the last 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams -- they have the best goal difference of the teams on three points.

Iraq go home without a point after a hugely disappointing campaign following an arduous route to qualify.

READ FULL REPORT HERE

Spain lead Uruguay 1-0 at half-time

Cape Verde set up Argentina showdown after 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia

World Cup debutants Cape Verde will face reigning champions Argentina in the knockout rounds after drawing 0-0 with Saudi Arabia on Friday to extend their fairytale journey.

The stalemate in Houston and Spain's 1-0 win over Uruguay meant the team ranked 67 coming into the tournament finished runners-up behind Spain in Group H.

Unbeaten in their three group matches, the archipelago nation of just over 500,000 will play Lionel Messi's Argentina in Miami on July 3 in another chapter to their remarkable story.

Cape Verde team members celebrate after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, Friday, June 26, 2026.
Cape Verde team members celebrate after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia in Houston, Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Spain beat Uruguay 1-0 to clinch World Cup Group H top spot

Spain players celebrate after winning the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026.
Spain players celebrate after winning the World Cup Group H soccer match between Uruguay and Spain in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo | AP)

New Zealand vs Belgium gets underway

Egypt and Iran kick off their Group G encounter

Mahmoud Saber gives Egypt early 1-0 lead over Iran

Egypt's Mahmoud Saber (21) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026.
Egypt's Mahmoud Saber (21) celebrates after scoring their first goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026.(Photo | AP)

Ramin Rezaeian strikes to bring Iran level

Iran's Ramin Rezaeian (23) shoots and scores their first goal against Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir (23) and Ahmed Fatouh (13) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026.
Iran's Ramin Rezaeian (23) shoots and scores their first goal against Egypt goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir (23) and Ahmed Fatouh (13) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between Egypt and Iran in Seattle, Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Leandro Trossard gives Belgium 1-0 lead over New Zealand

Trossard grabs his second as Belgium go 2-0 up

Belgium's Leandro Trossard (10) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, June 26, 2026.
Belgium's Leandro Trossard (10) scores their second goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Friday, June 26, 2026. (Photo | AP)

Kevin De Bruyne strikes to make it 3-0 for Belgium 

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne (7) celebrates after scoring past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe (1) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium on June 26, 2026.
Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne (7) celebrates after scoring past New Zealand goalkeeper Max Crocombe (1) during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium on June 26, 2026.(Photo | AP)

Lukaku gets on the scoresheet as Belgium go 4-1 up

Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (9) heads the ball into the goal for his team's fourth goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium.
Belgium's Romelu Lukaku (9) heads the ball into the goal for his team's fourth goal during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium.(Photo | AP)

Alexis Saelemaekers scores in stoppage time to make it 5-1 for Belgium 

Belgium's Alexis Saelemaekers (22) takes a shot and gets his team's fifth goal of the match during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium
Belgium's Alexis Saelemaekers (22) takes a shot and gets his team's fifth goal of the match during the World Cup Group G soccer match between New Zealand and Belgium(Photo | AP)

Iran have certain World Cup last-32 place snatched away after 1-1 draw with Egypt

Iran were deprived of a certain place in the World Cup knockout phase when a goal in stoppage time that would have given them a 2-1 win against Egypt was disallowed.

Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored the crucial winning goal as he slammed into the net after Egyptian defenders failed to clear, but Iranian celebrations were cut short after VAR deemed there was offside.

The final whistle sounded soon afterwards, leaving white-shirted Iranian players sprawled on the turf in disbelief.

With three points, Iran retain hope of qualifying as one of the eight best third-placed teams.

Belgium into World Cup last 32 with New Zealand rout

Belgium defeated New Zealand 5-1 to book their place in the knockout rounds of the World Cup on Friday, securing their first win of the tournament to finish on top of Group G in Vancouver.

A double strike from Arsenal's Leandro Trossard and goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Saelemaekers carried the Red Devils into the last 32 in first place ahead of Egypt on goal difference.

Egypt claimed the runners-up spot after a 1-1 draw with Iran in Seattle. The Iranians finished third in the group.

Kylian Mbappe
Erling Haaland
2026 FIFA World Cup

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