We are in uncharted waters for the Norwegians. They have never made it this far in the tournament before. On top of that, this is their first FIFA World Cup in 28 years. We get to watch them take on England in the quarter-finals on Saturday, July 11, at Miami Stadium at 5 pm local time.

What impact has Erling Haaland had on Norway’s campaign?

Norway advanced from Group I just behind France.

June 16: Iraq 1 – 4 Norway (Group play)

June 22: Norway 3 – 2 Senegal (Group play)

June 26: Norway 1 – 4 France (Group play)

June 30: Côte d’Ivoire 1 – 2 Norway (Round of 32)

July 5: Brazil 1 – 2 Norway (Round of 16)

In the Round of 16, Brazil had a chance to open the scoring early on a penalty kick against Norway, but goalkeeper Nyland made a brilliant save. The scoreless game continued until the 11th minute, when Norway star Erling Haaland headed the ball into the net. He followed that up with his seventh goal of the tournament, making it 2-0 for Norway.

Brazil scored on a stoppage-time penalty, but it was too little, too late for a comeback. It’s not a big surprise if you consider that Norway has not lost to Brazil in their last four encounters.

How did England perform in the group stage?

England topped Group L, going undefeated in the three games.

June 17: England 4 – 2 Croatia (Group play)

June 23: England 0 – 0 Ghana (Group play)

June 27: Panama 0 – 2 England (Group play)

July 1: England 2 – 1 Congo DR (Round of 32)

July 5: Mexico 2 – 3 England (Round of 16)

England’s Round of 16 match against Mexico, played in Mexico at high altitude, was a huge challenge, but they went ahead 2-0 with two goals from Jude Bellingham. However, England couldn’t clear a free kick, and Mexico’s top scorer, Julian Quinones, responded with a goal, giving them hope.

Mexico had several good chances as the match progressed, but couldn’t score. Kane eventually put England ahead by two goals again on a penalty. Mexico and their fans wouldn’t give in, though, and they also scored from a penalty, bringing the final score to 3-2.

England’s strong goalkeeping may have been the difference in this fixture.

What is the historical record between Norway and England?

The Norwegians have met the English on the football pitch 12 times since an international friendly in 1937. Their most recent encounter was a friendly in 2014, so it has little to no relevance to the current teams facing each other.

France takes the first Semi-final spot 🤝🇫🇷#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/WJqWdAea3H

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 9, 2026

What is the prediction for Norway vs England in the 2026 World Cup?

England is favored to win this match, but Norway has already shown that it can topple bigger nations. For a team that hasn’t appeared in the World Cup in 28 years, they have won over the fans with their rowing cheer to the beat of the drum.

England has a deeper roster with world-class players like Bellingham, Kane, Saka, and Rice. Norway has Erling Haaland and a dangerous counter-attacking style.

Except for a draw against Ghana in the Group stage, England has defeated each team in the tournament. Except for a dismal defeat by France in the group stage, Norway has won each of their games.

They’ve had similar success through the tournament, so expect a close game with England controlling possession and Norway making each step difficult.

Our Norway vs England prediction is a 2-2 draw, with England winning on penalties.

The post Norway vs England Prediction – Quarter-Final Game of the FIFA World Cup appeared first on PayPerHead®.

Morocco faces their arch-enemy, France, on July 9 at Boston Stadium at 4 pm local time. Morocco hopes to avenge their loss at the last FIFA World Cup against Les Bleus. Expect the best match of the quarter-finals.

How did France perform in the group stage and knockout rounds?

France had four straight wins in the tournament, averaging a three-goal scoring differential and conceding only two goals. Then they came up against Paraguay.

June 16: France 3 – 1 Senegal (Group play)

June 22: France 3 – 0 Iraq (Group play)

June 26: Norway 1 – 4 France (Group play)

June 30: France 3 – 0 Sweden (Round of 32)

July 4: Paraguay 0 – 1 France (Round of 16)

Paraguay’s defense neutralized France’s attacks, giving them few chances. The game was still 0-0 in the second half and threatening to go into extra time. France’s intensity was dropping as Paraguay worked towards a penalty shoot-out to decide the winner.

Minutes after replacing Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue made a brilliant run past the Paraguayan defense, where he was clipped inside the box. The ensuing penalty shot by Mbappe finally opened the scoring and ultimately sent France to the quarter-finals.

How did Morocco remain unbeaten in the tournament?

Morocco has gone through the tournament without a loss, but they have had two draws, one during the Round of 32. It shows that they are willing to choke the play and bide their time, blocking their opponent’s attempts to attack.

They came second to Brazil in Group C only because of goal differential. Both teams had 7 points. But Brazil is now out of the tournament. Morocco hopes to oust France, just as the Norwegian underdogs did to Brazil.

June 13: Brazil 1 – 1 Morocco (Group play)

June 19: Scotland 0 – 1 Morocco (Group play)

June 24: Morocco 4 – 2 Haiti (Group play)

June 29: Netherlands 1 – 1 Morocco (PSO 2-3, Round of 32)

July 4: Canada 0 – 3 Morocco (Round of 16)

Against Canada, Morocco showed what it can do when given the space to run.

What is the historical record between France and Morocco?

These two teams have met six times, with their first meeting at the 1988 Tournoi de France. France won 2-1 and has won each meeting since, except for a 1-1 draw in a 2007 Friendly. Their most recent meeting was in the 2022 World Cup during the semi-final in Qatar. Morocco was the first African team to reach the semis, but France comfortably ended their Cinderella run with a 2-0 win.

2022: France 🆚 Morocco#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/vlzRbKwzr2

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 9, 2026

What is the prediction for France vs Morocco in the 2026 World Cup?

Morocco will do everything it can to prevent the past from repeating. They have improved over the last four years and are no longer just a defensive powerhouse. They are now on a 10-match unbeaten streak and have added a more potent attack style. They are controlling possession and creating scoring threats. They showcased this in their 3-0 sweep of Canada.

But France has that and more. Their depth is unmatched with players like Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Machael Olise and Bradley Barcola.

Morocco will have its entire country behind it as it seeks to get past its nemesis. They won’t be thinking about the remainder of the tournament. This will be a do-or-die match for them. Expect a passionate, physical and intense game that will test the endurance of the French players.

Our France vs Morocco prediction is an even game until the end, with France jumping ahead 2-1 to win. Remember to follow us on our social media accounts.

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European neighbors Portugal and Spain will battle in the Round of 16 to see who will advance to the quarter-finals. The game will take place on Monday, July 6, at Dallas Stadium at 3 pm local time.

The biggest challenge for Portugal will be Spain’s defense. They are yet to conceive a goal in the entire tournament. Until that happens, they will continue to progress to the next stage. They led Group H, while Portugal finished in second place in Group K behind Colombia.

What impact did Ronaldo have against Croatia?

Portugal has appeared in 9 World Cups, starting in 1966 when they made it to 3rd place, their best showing. Since 2002, they have appeared in every FIFA World Cup (7 straight tournaments). In their last appearance in 2022, they made it to the quarter-finals.

This year, they hope to go even farther:

June 17: Portugal 1 – 1 Congo DR (Group play)

June 23: Portugal 5 – 0 Uzbekistan (Group play)

June 27: Colombia 0 – 0 Portugal (Group play)

July 2: Portugal 2 – 1 Croatia (Round of 32)                  

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his first career World Cup knockout goal with a penalty kick in the 68th minute against Croatia to tie the score at 1-1.

Then, in the 94th minute, Gonçalo Ramos scored Portugal’s go-ahead goal after Ronaldo had already been substituted off. In the 103rd minute, it looked like Croatia got the equalizer, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed for an offside infraction.

How has Spain performed in the 2026 World Cup so far?

Spain has 16 out of a possible 23 appearances in the World Cup. Their only title came in 2010, but they usually do well whenever they are a part of the tournament. This year, they are rated among the top teams, behind France and Argentina.

June 15: Spain 0 – 0 Cabo Verde (Group play)

June 21: Spain 4 – 0 Saudi Arabia (Group play)

June 26: Uruguay 0 – 1 Spain (Group play)

July 2: Spain 3 – 0 Austria (Round of 32)

They didn’t score in their opening game, but have since scored each time, averaging 2 goals per game.

2018: Portugal 🆚 Spain#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/jFhkoeLp4p

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 6, 2026

What is the historical record between Portugal and Spain?

These teams have met on the pitch 41 times over the years, with Spain having a slight edge. They have won more games than Portugal, but most are close, with many resulting in a draw:

• Spain wins:      17
• Draws:             18
• Portugal wins:   6

Spain beat Portugal 1-0 in the 2010 Round of 16 before going on to win the World Cup title. Most of the recent matches have gone to Spain, but Portugal always raises their game when they play each other.

What is the prediction for Portugal vs Spain in the 2026 World Cup?

Portugal played well against teams that aren’t as competitive, but hasn’t shown the flash that brought them to the tournament. They barely got past Croatia and will need to bring back their intensity to get past Spain.

For its part, Spain started slowly with a draw against Cabo Verde but has since found its stride and rhythm. They controlled the match against Austria, who failed to register a single shot on target.

Our Portugal vs Spain prediction is that Spain will win 3-1, but Portugal will at least score one goal.

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Newcomers, Cabo Verde, must take on the biggest challenge of their inaugural World Cup appearance: play against the defending champions, Argentina. Their match takes place at Miami Stadium on Friday, July 3.

This could be one of the most striking mismatches of the tournament, or it could be one of the biggest surprises.

In a sense, the pressure is on Argentina not to lose, as Cabo Verde has already surpassed expectations and advanced from the group phase.

How did Argentina perform in the group stage?

Argentina won all three of their group matches, only conceding one goal throughout. Mexico and France were the only other teams able to win each fixture.

Jun 16: Argentina 3 – 0 Algeria (Group play)

Jun 22: Argentina 2 – 0 Austria (Group play)

Jun 27: Jordan 1 – 3 Argentina (Group play)

Although Jordan was the only side to score against Argentina, they lost all their games and finished bottom of Group J.

3 spots remain. #FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 3, 2026

How did Cabo Verde advance without winning a game?

Cabo Verde advanced to the knockout phase as the runner-up of Group H without winning a single game. They had three draws, including their opener against top-ranked Spain. A win in itself, as Spain won their other two games.

Jun 15: Spain 0 – 0 Cabo Verde (Group play)

Jun 21: Uruguay 2 – 2 Cabo Verde (Group play)

Jun 26: Cabo Verde 0 – 0 Saudi Arabia (Group play)

Have Argentina and Cabo Verde ever played each other before?

Argentina and Cabo Verde have never competed against each other in international football before.

This is the first time ever that Cabo Verde has qualified for the FIFA World Cup. They came close in some African qualifiers but never made it to the finals. It is a huge achievement for one of the smallest and least-populated nations to qualify and then advance to the knockout stage.

Unfortunately, their next step is to play against the defending champions, who are heavy favorites to gain the title again.

What is the prediction for Argentina vs Cabo Verde in the 2026 World Cup?

Cabo Verde has played an excellent defensive tournament so far, not taking chances and holding off their opponents from scoring. Two of their group stage matches were goalless, but that’s no longer an option in the knockout stage. Someone has to score.

They were huge underdogs in the group stage and made it through by playing with heart, organization, and counter-attack threats. They will do their best to hold off the Argentina attackers, but that’s a losing battle against a team with multiple, relentless ways to score.

Argentina has the core that won in 2022, and everything still runs through Messi. The captain lets his teammates do the work while he watches for the right moments to take control and create chances.

Our Argentina vs Cabo Verde prediction is a harsh loss for the African island nation, with Argentina winning 3-0. Whatever the outcome, Cabo Verde will be celebrating after the game.

The post Argentina vs Cabo Verde Prediction – Huge Underdog in Round 32 appeared first on PayPerHead®.

On Thursday, July 2, Portugal will take on Croatia in the Round of 32. The game will be played at the Toronto Stadium at 7 pm EST.

Croatia’s young stars include 23-year-old Martin Baturina and Petar Sucic, but their strength remains in the midfield with Modrić, Kovačić and Pašilić. If they’re in top form and Livaković has a good game in goal, they have a chance against Portugal.

Portugal’s Bruno, Vitinha, and Neves haven’t found their chemistry yet, and the team is still successful and favored to win.

Portugal Recent Scores: No Losses

Portugal finished behind Colombia in Group K, and ahead of Congo DR and Uzbekistan after one win and two draws.

Jun 17: Portugal 1 – 1 Congo DR (Group play)

Jun 23: Portugal 5 – 0 Uzbekistan (Group play)

Jun 27: Colombia 0 – 0 Portugal (Group play)

They were outplayed by Colombia, but still managed a draw. Unfortunately, DR Congo managed a draw against Portugal in the opening fixture.

Ronaldo 🆚 Modrić

Two legends collide on the #FIFAWorldCup stage 🤩 pic.twitter.com/9iZqlMfiGy

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 2, 2026

Croatia Recent Scores: Regroup

Croatia had a rough start in the group stage, facing the top-ranked English team in Group L. They were surprisingly entertaining but reverted to their typical grinding game for the remaining matches.

They regrouped and won the next two fixtures against Panama and Ghana, showing experience and character. They scored against a defensive Panama side and again against a defensive Ghana side.

Jun 17: England 4 – 2 Croatia (Group play)

Jun 23: Panama 0 – 1 Croatia (Group play)

Jun 27: Croatia 2 – 1 Ghana (Group play)

They are surprisingly strong FIFA World Cup performers for such a small country, having reached the semi-finals in 2018 and the quarter-finals in 2022.

Portugal vs Croatia History: Portugal Dominates

These rivals have competed against each other 10 times since 1996. Prior to that, Portugal played against Yugoslavia, as Croatia became an independent country after 1991.

Head-to-Head record:

• Portugal wins: 7
• Draws: 2
• Croatia wins:   1

The only win for Croatia was a friendly in June 2024, followed by a win for Portugal and a draw in the 2024 UEFA Nations League.

Portugal vs Croatia Prediction: Renaldo Shines

Although not that impressive in the group stage, Portugal went through all three matches without a loss and is predicted to win against an aging Croatia, which has been less consistent than its Portuguese counterpart.

Modrić and several other older Croatian players are not as quick as some of the young stars on Portugal, but Modrić still controls the rhythm with precision on the Croatian side.

The group stage has given Croatia time to manage the mix of young and aging, experienced players, preparing them for the knockout stage.

Portugal’s Renaldo, 41, has scored twice and remains an excellent scorer, but contributes little else to his side’s play. They are still one of the favorites to win the title, but if they are to get past Croatia, they’ll need to play a patient game, keeping possession as much as possible.

Our Portugal vs Croatia prediction is 2-1 win for Portugal.

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USA are strong favorites to win against Bosnia on Wednesday, July 1, at 5 pm local time in the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. They have lost seven of their eight World Cup knockout-stage matches; however, this is arguably the best team they’ve fielded in recent years, and it should be able to improve on that stat.

Bosnia has never kept a clean sheet in its six FIFA World Cup matches, which could be a liability against this high-scoring USA side.

USA Recent Scores: Effective Strikers         

Winning the first two games of the group stage is the first time that USA has won consecutive World Cup matches since the inaugural tournament in 1930. It solidified first place in Group D, without the need for the third game.

Jun 12: USA 4 – 1 Paraguay (Strong opening win)

Jun 19: USA 2 – 0 Australia (Clean sheet victory)

Jun 25: Türkiye 3 – 2 USA (Lost in the 8th minute of added time)

Even with the loss to Türkiye, the USA showed its striking ability, scoring at least two goals per game.

Three spots in the Round of 16 up for grabs 👀 #FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 1, 2026

Bosnia Recent Scores: Like to Draw

This is Bosnia’s second World Cup appearance and only their first time advancing to the knockout stages. Their only other appearance was in 2014. They showed resilience in the competitive Group B.

Jun 12: Canada 1 – 1 Bosnia (Bosnia dominant. Canada scored in 78th minute)

Jun 18: Switzerland 4 – 1 Bosnia (5 goals in last 15 minutes)

Jun 24: Bosnia 3 – 1 Qatar (Solid victory)

Their defeat to Switzerland showed their defense can be fragile against strong opposition. While beating Qatar was encouraging, they were the weakest team in the group.

Bosnia tends to play low-scoring games to a draw, which has occurred in their last six games, ending with their first match against Canada. All the draws were 1-1, except for a friendly against North Macedonia, which ended 0-0.

USA vs Bosnia History: Only Friendlies

This will be the fourth meeting between these two teams, with the USA going undefeated in all matchups.

Dec 18, 2021: USA 1 – 0 Bosnia (Friendly at USA)

Jan 28, 2018: USA 0 – 0 Bosnia (Friendly at USA)

Aug 14, 2013: Bosnia 3 – 4 USA (Friendly at Bosnia)

In 2013, the USA trailed 3-0, but made a thrilling comeback in the second half.

All matches were friendlies, so this will be the first time they’ll meet in competition.

USA vs Bosnia Prediction: Two Allegiances

The USA will see the return of injured player, Christian Pulisic, who sustained a calf injury against Türkiye.

Bosnia has the tallest squad in the tournament, with an average height of 6-foot-1. They used that to their advantage, scoring three goals from corners. They also have one of the oldest players in the tournament. Edin Dzeko, 40, is their record scorer.

On an interesting note, Esmir Bajraktarevic’s parents emigrated to the US to escape the war in Bosnia. He was born in the US in 2004 and played for the USA team in 2024 in a friendly against Slovenia. He switched to the Bosnian team a few months later and will be playing as a winger against his former team in this match.

Our USA vs Bosnia prediction is for a spirited game between two teams excited to be in the World Cup finals, but it will be a 3-1 win for the USA.

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Mexico meets Ecuador for their Round of 32 match on Tuesday, June 30, at the Mexico City Stadium at 9 pm EST.

Mexico’s team has talent, including one of the tournament’s most exciting young stars, 17-year-old Gilberto Mora. Their manager has created a team greater than the sum of its parts. They aren’t the best team on paper, but with home advantage and their nation behind them, who knows?

Mexico Recent Scores: Perfect Group Stage

The winner of Group A, Mexico, is only one of three teams to win all their Group matches, and the only team to complete a perfect group stage without conceding a single goal.

Jun 24: Czechia 0 – 3 Mexico (Group play)

Jun 18: Mexico 1 – 0 South Korea (Group play)

Jun 11: Mexico 2 – 0 South Africa (Group play)

They are undefeated in their last 11 games, conceding only two goals in that span. They beat Czechia convincingly, even with several key players rested.

Mexico has never advanced past the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and hasn’t made it past the Round of 16 since 1986. There is excitement about the possibility that they can drive deep into this World Cup. So far, it’s been their most successful World Cup in a long time.

Ecuador Recent Scores: Bad Luck

Ecuador was facing elimination before their final game of the group stage against Germany. In a dramatic comeback full of intensity and desire, they defeated Germany to advance as one of the better third-place teams.

Jun 25: Ecuador 2 – 1 Germany (Group play)

Jun 20: Ecuador 0 – 0 Curaçao (Group play)

Jun 14: Ivory Coast 1 – 0 Ecuador (Group play)

Mexico vs Ecuador History: Recent Ties

This will be the 28th meeting of these two teams, with Mexico dominating:

• Mexico wins: 15
• Draws: 8
• Ecuador wins: 4

In their lone World Cup meeting in 2002, Mexico defeated Ecuador 2-1. Most recently, their games have been very close and low scoring:

Oct 14, 2025: Mexico 1 – 1 Ecuador (Friendly)

Jun 30, 2024: Mexico 0 – 0 Ecuador (Copa América (Group))

Jun 5, 2022: Mexico 0 – 0 Ecuador (Friendly)

Oct 27, 2021: Mexico 2 – 3 Ecuador (Friendly)

Jun 9, 2019: Mexico 3 – 2 Ecuador (Friendly)

Their games have become defensive, cagey matches in recent years. Expect another low-scoring close game.

More action. More drama.#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2026

Mexico vs Ecuador Prediction: Nail Biter

These are two evenly-matched teams with strong defenses. The game could come down to penalty shootouts at the end. El Tri has home-field advantage at the Estadio Azteca as Ecuador must play them in a hostile environment in the heart of Mexico City.

To show how hostile, Mexico has only lost two official matches at the Estadio Azteca since 1966 and is undefeated in its last 24 matches played there.

When looking at the results of these two teams through the group stage, Mexico looks to have little to be concerned with. However, Ecuador was projected to do much better than it did, with plenty of young talent on its team led by Enner Valencia, the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, who is one shy of 50 career international goals.

Our Mexico vs Ecuador prediction is a close game with more scoring than originally expected. Mexico will win 2-1.

The post Mexico vs Ecuador Prediction – American Teams in the FIFA World Cup Round 32 appeared first on PayPerHead®.

France meets Sweden for their Round of 32 fixture on Tuesday, June 30, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium at 5 pm EST.

France’s Kylian Mbappe leads the line surrounded by Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise. Viktor Gyorkeres and Alexander Isak are the striking pair for Sweden, who are expected to score, but their defense has been a problem during the tournament.

Sweden may get a goal or two, but France will get more in this FIFA World Cup match.

France Recent Scores: Strong Favorites

Prior to the tournament start, France played two pre-tournament friendlies in early June, winning against Northern Ireland but losing to the Ivory Coast.

They had a slow start to their opening game against Senegal, but turned up the heat in the second half and won 3-1. In the three group games, France has played strongly, winning all three matches and scoring 10 goals while conceding only 2.

Jun 26: Norway 1 – 4 France (Group play)

Jun 22: France 3 – 0 Iraq (Group play)

Jun 16: France 3 – 1 Senegal (Group play)

Norway finished in second place in Group I, but France’s Ousmane Dembélé scored a hat-trick in their 4-1 win against the Norwegians in the final game.

These two ✨#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/MqtiixwTFe

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 30, 2026

Sweden Recent Scores: A Strong Third

Sweden’s qualifying campaign was dismal enough to surprise anyone they are in the World Cup, but they made up for it in their March playoff run, and here they are.

Sweden was part of Group F, where they had mixed results. They had a convincing opening game against Tunisia, and then lost just as convincingly against the Netherlands.

Jun 26: Japan 1 – 1 Sweden (Group play)

Jun 20: Netherlands 5 – 1  Sweden (Group play)

Jun 14: Sweden 5 – 1 Tunisia (Group play)

Their final game against Japan was a hard-fought draw, which set them up as one of the best third-place teams. Unfortunately for Japan, they just lost against Brazil 2-1 in the Round of 32.

France vs Sweden History: France is Dominant

These teams have played against each other 23 times over many years, with their first match an international friendly on November 10, 1935, which France won 2-0. France has dominated those matches:

• France wins: 12
• Draws: 5
• Sweden wins: 6

Their last two competitions were the UEFA Nations League in 2020, with France winning both.

The last time Sweden won was the 2018 World Cup qualifier on June 9, 2017. Final score: Sweden 2-1 France.

France vs Sweden Prediction: Minor Injuries for France

France is highly favored to win this match. Their only issues are two injuries. Defender William Saliba rested against Norway because of a persistent back issue. He is doubtful to play against Sweden. Striker Marcus Thuram is ruled out due to calf and adductor muscle issues. It’s considered minor, but he’s still sitting out.

Those issues will make the game more interesting, but France is still expected to win by a wide margin.

Our France vs Sweden prediction is a 4-1 win for France.

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The top two teams of Group I will face each other for their final group fixture. Norway and France will meet on June 26 at 3 pm EST at Boston Stadium.

The Group I standings so far:

Both teams have secured an invitation to the Round of 32, but depending on the outcome of this next game, they will either have a potentially softer route as the top team in the group or face a tougher path as the loser.

Expect a competitive but controlled match that will be entertaining for the fans, who may all become Vikings by the end as they row in unison with the Norwegian team.

Norway Recent Scores: Rare Appearance

Norway has appeared in the FIFA World Cup three times previously.

• 1938: Made it to the Round of 16
• 1994: Group stage
• 1998: Made it to the Round of 16

Their group fixtures in this year’s World Cup:

June 16: Iraq 1 – 4 Norway

June 22: Norway 3 – 2 Senegal

All to play for 👊#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 26, 2026

France Recent Scores: One of the Few

France has been in 16 FIFA World Cups, starting with the first one in 1930. They are one of only eight countries to have won the title. Their first title was in 1998, when they defeated Brazil 3-0. Their second title came in 2018, when they defeated Croatia 4-2 in the final.

This tournament’s wins for France so far:

June 16: France 3 – 1 Senegal

June 22: France 3 – 0 Iraq

Norway vs France History: Renewing Rivalry

These teams have faced each other 15 times, but not since 2014. Their first competition against each other was on June 11, 1922, when Norway won 7-0, their biggest goal differential. Their next-biggest was in their most recent meeting on May 27, 2014. This time, France won, 4-0.

Their head-to-head all-time record:

• France wins: 7
• Draws: 4
• Norway wins: 4
• France goals: 22
• Norway goals: 15

Norway vs France Prediction: Overwhelming Talent

Judging by their first two games against the same teams, France and Norway look like they’re at the same level. However, France has more depth and talent with players like Mbappé, Olise, Tchouaméni and Saliba. They are currently ranked #2, while Norway is down at #22, having been moved up 9 positions.

France is missing their head coach, Didier Deschamps, due to a family issue, but that shouldn’t hamper their efforts. Expect France to have more possession and create better chances.

Norway may succeed at keeping France off the scoreboard for much of the game, but Mbappé has scored four goals in two games and is always a threat, although Haaland has done the same for Norway.

France’s defense may be the deciding factor in this game, as they have only conceded one goal, while Norway has allowed three in the first two games.

Our Norway vs France prediction is a decisive 3-1 win for France, but it should give Norway the confidence and experience to be prepared for the next round of the tournament.

The post Norway vs France Prediction – Who’ll Be on Top of Group I? appeared first on PayPerHead®.

On Thursday, June 25, USA and Türkiye play their final group fixture. The two teams started the tournament with similar FIFA ratings. Now, Türkiye is 32nd and dropping, while the USA is 14th and rising.

This match won’t have the same meaning as it was supposed to have when the schedule was first made.

The Group D standings so far:

Türkiye Recent Scores: Eliminated

This is Türkiye’s third World Cup appearance. The first was in 1954, when they were eliminated in group play. In 2002, they lost in the semi-finals and finished third.

Türkiye and its fans had high expectations for this year’s FIFA World Cup. When the team landed in Group D, they thought this fixture would be the highlight match of the group, deciding who would ultimately end up on top.

Instead, after losing the first two games and failing to score any goals, Türkiye is already eliminated. They had 62 shots across two matches, the most by a team in a World Cup without scoring. Not a record to be proud of, but it does show that the team played well with plenty of possession and quality play. They just couldn’t finish.

June 13: Australia 2 – 0 Türkiye

June 19: Türkiye 0 – 1 Paraguay

So much #FIFAWorldCup action 😮‍💨

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 25, 2026

USA Recent Scores: Already Won

The USA men’s team has qualified for the World Cup 11 previous times, starting in 1930. They made seven consecutive appearances between 1990 and 2014 before a disappointing 2018, when they didn’t qualify.

In 2022, they reached the Round of 16.

So far, in the group stage in 2026:

June 12: USA 4 – 1 Paraguay (most goals for USA in a World Cup match)

June 19: USA 2 – 0 Australia

Türkiye vs USA History: Evenly Matched

Their history shows two teams that have remained very competitive throughout their years of playing against each other. Both teams have won twice, with one draw. Each team won by the same amount with a one-goal differential. Türkiye has the slight advantage, winning the most recent match in 2025. Will that same team show up on Thursday?

Sept 4, 1991: Türkiye 1 – 1 USA (International Friendly, Türkiye)

Jun 19, 2003: USA 1 – 2 Türkiye (FIFA Confederations Cup-Group Stage, France)

May 29, 2010: USA 2 – 1 Türkiye (International Friendly, USA)

Jun 1, 2014: USA 2 – 1 Türkiye (International Friendly, USA)

Jun 7, 2025: USA 1 – 2 Türkiye (International Friendly, USA)

Türkiye vs USA Prediction: Going for Nine

Even though the USA has nothing to play for in this match, they still want to win. They want to get nine points, something they’ve never done before in the World Cup. They will still play it smart and avoid unnecessary risks, but expect them to keep the momentum going into the next stage of the tournament.

Plus, they won’t want to disappoint the home crowd at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

And Türkiye will want to at least score, so as not to have to go home completely defeated.

Our Türkiye vs USA prediction is that the US will win, but Türkiye will finally get on the scoreboard, 2-1. It should be a better game than expected.

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