Heavyweights collide as Mbappé meets Haaland as three more groups wrap up FIFA World Cup action on TSN

Another full day of FIFA World Cup action is in store as Groups H, Group G and Group I wrap up group-stage action with must still to play for as the Round of 32 beckons.

Here’s a closer look at what to expect from the pitch on Friday.

Mbappé, Haaland eye Golden Boot as France meets Norway in Group I showdown

Norway vs. France - 3pm ET/Noon PT on TSN1/3/4, TSN.ca and the TSN App

If you were scripting this World Cup, you couldn’t do a better job of featuring the game’s superstars than what we’ve already seen. The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Vini Jr. have all had signature moments on football’s biggest stage. Two more icons of the sport face off on Friday with top spot in Group I, and maybe the Golden Boot, on the line.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland of Manchester City enter Friday’s match in Boston having notched braces in both of their respective team’s first two victories. With both France and Norway sitting on six points, they’re already guaranteed spots in the Round of 32, but the game in Boston will decide the group winner. By virtue of a superior goal differential, +5 to +4, France needs only a draw to top the group, while the Vikings need all three points.

Group I table ahead of Matchday 3

As far as the bracket looks, the Group I winner and runner-up would both face difficult matchups in the Round of 16 (should results go chalk, it would be Germany for the winners and Brazil for the team in second place), but the top team will have a more favourable game in the Round of 32. The group winner is set for a June 30 match in New York against a third-place team (likely Sweden), while the runner-up will travel to Dallas to take on the Group E runner-up (most likely Cote d’Ivoire) on the same day. The other consideration here is that travel to New York from Boston is significantly less onerous than a flight to Dallas.

But back to Mbappé and Haaland. On four goals, each man currently trails Messi by one in pursuit of the Golden Boot. With so many players currently in striking distance of the lead, tiebreakers are likely to come into play. The first tiebreaker is assists with fewest minutes played coming next. Neither Mbappé nor Haaland has registered a helper yet, so the former is officially listed as third over the latter by virtue of having played eight fewer minutes, 199 to 207.

Golden Boot race heating up

Senegal vs. Iraq from Toronto - 3pm ET/Noon PT on TSN2, CTV, Crave TSN.ca and the TSN App

The group’s other match features two teams still looking for their first points of the tournament with an early exit on the horizon. Senegal and Iraq will take to the pitch in Toronto well aware that anything less than a victory will result in the end of their respective World Cups. And even three points might not be enough to live to see another day.

Of the two teams, the Lions of Teranga are in a more advantageous position to advance with a victory. A win over Iraq guarantees a -2 goal differential or better. That would be enough to leapfrog them over Group C’s Scotland who sit on -3. Eight of the 12 third-place teams will move on to the Round of 32.

The situation is more dire for Iraq and much of that is due to their heavy losses to Norway and France in their first two matches. Sitting at a -6 goal differential, Iraq will need a convincing victory over Senegal to move on. With one goal scored through two games, a big win seems unlikely. The Athletic’s model currently gives Iraq just a three per-cent chance of heading to the knockouts.

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European champions Spain look to send Uruguay home and top Group H

Uruguay vs. Spain - 8pm ET/5pm PT on TSN1/4/5, TSN.ca and the TSN App

That was more like it. After being frustrated by Cabo Verde to a scoreless draw in their opener, Euro holders Spain broke out on Matchday 2 with a comprehensive 4-0 demolition of Saudi Arabia in Atlanta. Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal led the way with a brace.

In firm control of Group H, a draw is likely enough for Spain to claim the group, but La Roja will be out for a win and to keep the momentum going. That’s bad news for their opponents on Friday, Uruguay, who have a very real chance of going straight home from Guadalajara. It’s a fascinating match for La Celeste who are assuredly done with a loss, but also have a path to winning the group with a victory.

Uruguay’s past five World Cups

Cabo Verde vs. Saudi Arabia - 8pm ET/5pm PT on TSN2, TSN.ca and the TSN App

In the other Group H game, one of the tournament’s surprise teams, Cabo Verde, look to continue their Cinderella run. A nation of fewer than 500,000, the World Cup debutants have yet to be defeated and are in great position to reach the Round of 32. Goalkeeper Vozinha of Portuguese side Chaves has become one of the stars of the competition.

Group H table ahead of Matchday 3

With a defeat of Saudi Arabia, Cabo Verde can still win the group should Spain lose and they outscore Uruguay. While that scenario is unlikely, a victory on Friday guarantees a top-two spot. A goal differential of zero means a draw should also be enough for the Blue Sharks to move on.

Things don’t look as rosy for Saudi Arabia and their 4-0 loss to Spain is to blame. Currently sitting at a -4 goal differential, Friday is a must-win for the Saudis. Four points could be enough for a second-place finish in the group and, if it’s not, it will be enough to move on as a third-place side. Anything less than three points sends Saudi Arabia home. The team’s lone trip to the knockout round in six previous World Cups came in 1994.

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Belgium tries to avoid getting ‘grouped’ again as Group G play winds down

New Zealand vs. Belgium from Vancouver - 11pm ET/8pm PT on TSN1/4/5, Crave, CTV2, TSN.ca and the TSN App

It couldn’t happen again, could it? In the twilight of Belgium’s golden generation, the Red Devils sit on two points from two matches and the very really prospect of a second-straight group-stage exit is staring them down. More worrying still is an anemic attack that has not scored. The team’s lone goal was an own goal in a 1-1 draw with Egypt.

But Belgium is still a heavy favourite against New Zealand, a team that has given up five goals through two games. If there were a time for the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard to break out, it’s now. When the Red Devils finished third at Russia 2016, they scored 16 goals in their seven matches. They notched just one in their group-stage departure in 2022 in Qatar.

Where are the goals?

Egypt vs. Iran - 8pm ET/5pm PT on TSN2, TSN.ca and the TSN App

Speaking of goals, Egypt was crying out for one as they trailed New Zealand into the second half of their match in Vancouver last Sunday. Their prayers were answered with two goals in a nine-minute flurry, including one from talisman Mo Salah, and an 82nd-minute exclamation point in what turned into a 3-1 victory. The night ended with fan videos flooding the internet of Salah dancing in the streets of Vancouver.

Playing in their third World Cup, the Pharaohs will almost assuredly be playing in the knockout round for the first time. A victory over Iran will wrap up top spot in the group and set up a date on Canada Day with a third-place team (likely South Korea). Another perk for winning the group for Egypt would be the ability to stay in Seattle where that Round of 32 game is scheduled.

Group G table ahead of Matchday 3

Sitting on two points, Iran knows a win is the only way to guarantee a spot in the knockouts. Three points against Egypt could also wrap up the group and allow them to remain in Seattle, depending on what happens in the other match. Currently, Iran has a superior goal differential to Belgium by one. While a loss will send them home, a draw should be enough to send them to the knockouts as one of the eight-best third-place teams.