France and Spain advance, Uruguay exits World Cup group stage
Dembélé’s first-half hat trick sent France through on nine points, while Spain’s 1-0 win over Uruguay closed Marcelo Bielsa’s group-stage campaign.
France and Spain both booked their places in the knockout rounds, but they did it in sharply different styles. France tore through Norway 4-1 in Boston-Foxborough, Massachusetts, to finish the group stage with a perfect nine points, while Spain advanced with a tighter 1-0 win over Uruguay in Guadalajara that eliminated Marcelo Bielsa’s side.
France’s statement was emphatic. Ousmane Dembélé scored in the 7th, 20th and 32nd minutes to complete a first-half hat trick, and Désiré Doué added the fourth goal in stoppage time. The result left France atop Group I with three wins from three matches and set Norway second on six points. Norway had kept Erling Haaland in reserve, but even without the striker on the field, France controlled the game and turned the night into a showcase for its attacking depth.
The performance carried a place in World Cup history as well. FIFA said Dembélé’s treble was the first in the first half of a World Cup match since Oleg Salenko in 1994, and the second-fastest hat trick in tournament history. With Kylian Mbappé in the same squad and Dembélé finishing chances early, France exits the group stage with the sort of balance and firepower that few opponents will want to face.
Spain reached the same stage by a more pragmatic route. Álex Baena scored the only goal in the 42nd minute against Uruguay, and Spain held that lead to finish first in its group with seven points. Uruguay, on two points, was eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup after failing to turn possession into enough clear chances and after another mistake from goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was punished again.
The contrast between the two results sharpened the shape of the tournament itself. The 2026 World Cup, the first with 48 teams and three hosts, Canada, Mexico and the United States, has already pushed European and South American powers into direct fights for the knockout bracket. France arrived there with maximum points and a front line firing at full speed; Spain arrived with less spectacle but with the result it needed, leaving France looking the more complete contender as the bracket begins to tighten.
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