Mbappe starts, Haaland benched as France-Norway clash falls short of dream duel

France forward Kylian Mbappe (No. 10) looks dejected in the rain during the 2026 World Cup Group I match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22. [AFP]

The much-anticipated head-to-head between two of football's next-generation superstars will have to wait. Kylian Mbappe of France is in the starting lineup, but Erling Haaland of Norway will begin the match on the bench.

France and Norway announced their starting lineups ahead of their 2026 World Cup Group I finale at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday. Both teams have secured spots in the round of 32 with two wins apiece — six points each — but the race for first place in the group remains alive.

The most notable change is Haaland's absence from the starting eleven. Norway coach Stale Solbakken opted for a significant rotation, resting Haaland and several other key players.

Jorgen Strand Larsen will lead the attack in place of Haaland, who has scored four goals in two group-stage matches. The move appears to be a strategic decision to manage fitness given the long travel distances of the North American World Cup schedule and the knockout rounds ahead. Solbakken had earlier said, "The World Cup is like a pressure cooker. You have to manage it wisely."

France, by contrast, is prioritizing the group lead. Mbappe will start and spearhead the attack. With four goals to his name, he is chasing top scorer Lionel Messi, who leads with five. A draw would be enough for France to clinch first place. Finishing atop the group also raises the likelihood of staying in the northeastern United States for subsequent matches, reducing the burden of long-distance travel — a factor that adds to the stakes.

France is also dealing with some disruption to its setup. Head coach Didier Deschamps has returned to France to attend his mother's funeral, leaving assistant coach Guy Stephan in charge on the touchline. Maxence Lacroix will start in place of William Saliba, who is expected to miss the match with back pain, while Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Desire Doue will join Mbappe in attack.

The dream starting duel between Mbappe and Haaland has yet to materialize, but the match still carries considerable significance.

Norway are expected to target France through quick counterattacks built around captain Martin Odegaard, with Haaland likely to come on as an impact substitute in the second half. France, meanwhile, plan to seize control early by leveraging Mbappe's pace and individual brilliance.

shee@heraldcorp.com