Haaland backs France for 2026 World Cup win after Norway's Senegal victory

Norway defeated Senegal 3-2 in their Tuesday World Cup match, with Erling Haaland scoring two goals to secure Round of 32 qualification. Following the victory, Haaland told Fox Sports that France "are probably going to win against us" in their upcoming Group I match and added they're "probably going to win the whole tournament." However, his quoted statement about speaking "after Norway defeated France" contains a clear factual error since that match is still forthcoming - Norway actually defeated Senegal to advance.

Both Norway and France currently hold six points each in Group I, setting up a decisive final group match. This assessment from one of football's premier strikers offers insight into perceived tournament favorites as the competition reaches its decisive stages.

For Nigerian football fans tracking Algeria's recent victory (which made them the fifth African team to win at this World Cup), Haaland's perspective provides context for evaluating group stage outcomes and potential knockout matchups. Considering his assessment of France as tournament favorites, how might this influence your expectations for African teams' chances in the knockout stages, particularly given Senegal's recent loss and Algeria's promising start?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/23/world-cup-2026-haaland-identifies-team-to-win-tournament/