Ousmane Dembele produced a sensational first-half hat-trick as France defeated Norway 4-1 at Boston Stadium on Friday to seal top spot in Group I of the FIFA World Cup.
With both teams already through to the Round of 32, France needed only a draw to finish first, while Norway required a victory to leapfrog Les Bleus. Norway, however, left star striker Erling Haaland on the bench for the group-stage finale.
France signalled their intent from the opening whistle as Kylian Mbappe rattled the underside of the crossbar inside the first minute after bursting down the right flank.
The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute when Mbappe’s cross found Dembele, who rifled a powerful finish into the top-right corner.
Norway threatened through Jorgen Strand Larsen in the 14th minute, but his effort sailed over the bar. France doubled their advantage six minutes later as Dembele collected another Mbappe pass, cut inside from the right and curled home clinically after Mbappe had earlier been denied by goalkeeper Egil Selvik.
The Norwegians responded almost immediately, with Thelo Aasgaard reducing the deficit in the 21st minute through a low strike from outside the box.
France, however, remained in complete control. Dembele completed his hat-trick in the 32nd minute, steering another precise finish into the far corner to cap a brilliant first-half display.
The treble was the sixth first-half hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history and the first since Oleg Salenko achieved the feat for Russia against Cameroon in 1994. It was also the third hat-trick of the 2026 tournament, following those by Lionel Messi for Argentina and Jonathan David for Canada.
Norway had an opportunity to get back into the contest early in the second half, but Mike Maignan produced a fine low save to deny Strand Larsen from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.
Selvik then required treatment after injuring himself while attempting to stop another powerful Mbappe effort that flashed narrowly wide.
Substitute Desire Doue completed the scoring in stoppage time, heading home Bradley Barcola’s cross to wrap up an emphatic French victory.
France advanced to the knockout stage as Group I winners, while Norway progressed in second place. Despite being rested, Haaland remained level with Mbappe on four goals in the Golden Boot standings, one behind tournament leader Lionel Messi.