FIFA World Cup 2026: France wants a top position in the group to avoid travel disruptions, says Stephan

France will aim to secure top spot in its World Cup Group I on Friday when it takes on also in-form Norway to avoid having to travel far from its base in Boston for the next matches, assistant coach Guy Stephan said.

France and Norway have qualified for the knockout stages after winning their first two matches. France only needs a draw to finish top thanks to their superior goal difference.

Speaking on Thursday in place of the team’s World Cup-winning coach Didier Deschamps, who has returned to France for his mother’s funeral, Stephan said centre-back William Saliba would be missing against Norway and striker Marcus Thuram was suffering from calf pain.

“Didier wants to finish at the top, just like the entire group, because the logistics would be completely different,” says Stephan. «Travel times to different cities would be much longer if we finished second. And then there is the problem of temperatures. First place is the best.»

LONG JOURNEY

As group leaders, the 2018 champions could remain in the northeastern United States until the quarter-finals, while the team that finishes second faces the prospect of traveling long distances to Dallas, Miami and Atlanta.

READ ALSO | Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ ball goes to auction as collectibles soar

Stephan, who was hired by Deschamps as his assistant at Ligue 1 club Marseille in 2009 and joined him for the French national team three years later, said he expected little contact with his boss on Friday, the day of the funeral. Stephan said Deschamps would return to Boston late Friday or early Saturday.

French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said Deschamps’ absence was felt by the squad. «It’s a difficult moment for everyone, the coach but also for us,» said the Real Madrid player.

«We have tried to make things as normal as possible, even if the situation is not normal. He gave us a mission and our main goal will be to make him as proud as possible.»

Depending on whether France and Norway decide to rest players, Friday’s match could feature two contenders for the highest score of the World Cup’s Golden Boot: France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who both have four goals in two games, one behind Argentina’s Lionel Messi. «Haaland? He can score at any time,» Tchouameni said. “Every moment we don’t concentrate can cost us dearly.”

Published on June 26, 2026