One of the most exciting groups of the World Cup offers a wealth of betting opportunities, and I’m here to cash in. France, Norway, Senegal and Iraq make up Group I, and I’ve got three tasty bets for you to consider. Let’s start!
World Cup Tips: Group I Betting Odds & Tips
The tastiest group of the 2026 World Cup deserves juicy bets, and I’ve found three selections that may tickle your fancy. I used some of the best online bookies to get the latest odds. Check out all three bets below.
| Market | Odds (Bookmaker) | Return for £10 |
|---|---|---|
| France to Win the Group | 4/11 (William Hill) | £13.64 |
| Erling Haaland Top Norway Goalscorer | 1/2 (SpreadEx) | £15.00 |
| Iraq to Win 0 Points | 1/1 (BetMGM) | £20.00 |
*All odds on this page are correct at 12:00 BST on 09/06/2025. Odds subject to change.
No Expiry Date
Bet 1: France to Win the Group
France are among the favourites to lift the trophy, which will come as a shock to absolutely nobody. When your squad is stacked with world-class talent from front to back, expectations tend to be high.
That said, this isn't a group they'll be taking lightly. Norway are back at the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1998 and arrive with plenty of momentum, while Senegal will always be remembered for ruining France's opening night back in 2002.
Still, there's a reason Les Bleus are priced where they are. Didier Deschamps could probably field two starting XIs and still fancy his chances of winning most matches. Few nations can match France for depth, quality and tournament know-how.
Barring a dramatic collapse, they should have enough to finish top of the pile. The odds won't have anyone rushing to hand in their notice at work, but this looks like a solid acca booster and one of the safer plays in the group market.
Sometimes you don't need to overthink it. France are very good at football, and backing them at 4/11 to top the group is the smart play.
For more tournament selections, make sure to check out Jonathan’s five bets for the World Cup group stage. With the 4-fold offering 39/1 odds, you certainly don’t want to miss out.
Bet 2: Erling Haaland Top Norway Goalscorer
Man City ace Erling Haaland was not even alive when Norway last reached the promised land of the World Cup. Now, the world's most terrifying centre-forward will be looking to drag them into the knockout stages.
Make no bones about it, if Norway are scoring goals at this tournament, there's a pretty good chance Haaland will be the bloke wheeling away in celebration.
The City goal machine topped the goalscoring charts in qualifying, firing home 16 goals in just eight appearances while also chipping in with a couple of assists for good measure.
Yes, the standard of opposition steps up considerably at the World Cup, but Haaland isn't exactly the sort of striker who loses sleep over who he's playing against. In fact, defenders certainly lose sleep over him.
Odds of 1/2 from some of the best football betting sites are not the most attractive. But let’s face it, sometimes the obvious bet is obvious for a reason. If Norway find the net with any regularity, you'd fancy Haaland to account for a healthy chunk of the damage.
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Bet 3: Iraq to Win 0 Points
Every World Cup group tends to have one team that looks like they've accidentally wandered into the wrong room. Unfortunately for Iraq, they might be that team here.
The Lions of Mesopotamia deserve credit for getting to the tournament. They punched their ticket via a FIFA inter-confederation play-off (don’t ask me, I’ve never heard of it) and edged past Bolivia 2-1 to secure their place.
If Graham Arnold's side were to nick a point from this group, it would probably go down as one of the biggest achievements in Iraqi football history. The issue for backers is finding a realistic route to that point.
Recent form doesn't exactly inspire confidence either. Iraq have managed just one victory in their World Cup build-up, and that came against Andorra.
At even money, Iraq to finish with zero points looks a very tempting play. It feels harsh, but sometimes betting is about putting sentiment aside and simply calling it as you see it.
