France's forward #07 Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring his team's third goal with midfielder #06 Manu Kone during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between Norway and France at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 26, 2026. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Foxborough, United States: 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.
France will now stay in the northeastern USA for a last-32 tie against a third-place finisher at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey next Tuesday.
It was an emotionally charged day for Les Bleus, who had to play this match without coach Didier Deschamps after he returned to France to attend his mother's funeral. Deschamps, who will step down at the end of the World Cup after 14 years in charge, is due back with his squad on Saturday.
Norway, who also saw Jorgen Strand Larsen have a penalty saved, go through in second place with six points, their progress already having been secured before this game thanks to wins over Iraq and Senegal.
That explains why coach Stale Solbakken made 10 changes to his starting line-up here following the 3-2 win over Senegal last time out.
Haaland, captain Martin Odegaard and striker Alexander Sorloth were among the players rested, with Benfica's Fredrik Aursnes the only one retained.
The regulars will undoubtedly return in the next round, and Norway will take on Ivory Coast in Dallas next Tuesday.
