World Cup Day 16 What to Watch: Kylian Mbappé vs. Erling Haaland, Groups H and G sort things out
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The 2026 World Cup continues on Friday with Groups G, H and I in action.
Here's what you need to know for Day 16 of the World Cup.
Norway vs. France
Friday, June 26 | 3 p.m. ET | Foxborough, Mass. | TV: Fox
Odds: Norway (+370), France (-165), Tie (+360)
AdvertisementAdvertisementThis one is for all the marbles. With two wins apiece, both Norway and France are already through to the knockout round, meaning that this game will determine who wins the group and who finishes second. Also on the line is a more favorable path, as the winner will face a third-place team in the knockout round, while the runner-up will face a solid Ivory Coast team.
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More importantly, this will be our first real taste of superstar vs. superstar. France's Kylian Mbappé and Norway's Erling Haaland are both living up to the billing so far: The two strikers both have four goals, after both scored braces in each of their first two games. Mbappé and Haaland are tied for second now in the Golden Boot race as a result, and could add to that tally on Friday.
In the end, this game might come down to experience: Mbappé's France is a more experienced squad, with the 27-year-old captain already in his third World Cup. Norway, meanwhile, is back in the tournament for the first time since 1998 with a Vikings squad young and inexperienced enough to possibly give France an edge.
AdvertisementAdvertisementSenegal vs. Iraq
Friday, June 26 | 3 p.m. ET | Toronto | TV: FS1
Odds: Senegal (-475), Iraq (+1200), Tie (+550)
This game is going to be a battle for third place, and for a slim chance at a knockout appearance. Both Senegal and Iraq are heading into the game with zero points, meaning either team must win to get a chance at one of the eight third-place spots — and even then, teams with four points have a much better chance at advancing, putting both teams here at a disadvantage.
Senegal currently holds a slight edge on goal differential, as Iraq is coming off three-goal losses against both Norway and France; Senegal also has more goals, and got surprisingly close to upsetting Norway in the final minutes behind a brace from Ismaïla Sarr. Either way, expect some desperation from both parties here, as neither team wants to go home due to a lack of effort.
AdvertisementAdvertisementCape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia
Friday, June 26 | 8 p.m. ET | Houston | TV: FS1
Odds: Cape Verde (+155), Saudi Arabia (+180), Tie (+230)
Cape Verde has been one of the best stories of the tournament so far: In its World Cup debut, the tiny African archipelago nation has gotten draws against Spain and Uruguay thanks to some excellent defending and heroic saves from 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha.
Now, it'll be a meeting of the Davids to close out the incredibly tight Group H. Cape Verde is currently in third, but is a hop away from second, and could advance in its first-ever tournament off a win or draw over Saudi Arabia.
AdvertisementAdvertisementSaudi Arabia, meanwhile, held Uruguay to a draw to kick things off but struggled against Spain. Still, the Saudis aren't out of the running yet either, and a win over Cape Verde plus a Uruguay-Spain draw could lift them enough to as high as second place. Plus, Saudi Arabia has done well in America: The team's last (and only) time advancing out of the group stage was back in the 1994 World Cup in the U.S.
Either way, there will be a lot on the line, as both teams will have to wait until the final whistle to figure out how the chaotic Group H shakes out.
Uruguay vs. Spain
Friday, June 26 | 8 p.m. ET | Guadalajara | TV: Fox
Odds: Uruguay (+600), Spain (-210), Tie (+330)
AdvertisementAdvertisementThis has not been the World Cup run that Uruguay was hoping for — or, frankly, that Spain expected either. Spain, a favorite to win it all, was held to a 0-0 draw against Cape Verde but bounced back with a win over Saudi Arabia.
Uruguay, though, has yet to win against either of Group H's underdog opponents, settling for draws against both Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde. And with the way that the third-place teams are shaking out, the country's two points might not be enough to advance to the knockout round if either Cape Verde or Saudi Arabia win and end in second.
Even Spain's four points is a little risky, though La Roja is in by far the most comfortable position of the group. This is one of few groups where both final games have a major effect on the final group standings. Uruguay will desperately hope to get some points on Friday in order to salvage this World Cup run.
Egypt vs. Iran
Friday, June 26 | 11 p.m. ET | Seattle | TV: FS1
Odds: Egypt (+145), Iran (+280), Tie (+155)
AdvertisementAdvertisementLike Group H, Group G is another tight one, as a pair of draws on the first day of group play makes this table particularly complicated. Egypt is the only team to record a win so far in this group stage, defeating New Zealand for the first World Cup win in the nation's history; those four points means that Egypt's spot in the knockout is likely safe.
Iran, though, can secure a first-place berth with a win, as the team holds a slight goals advantage over Belgium, or can draw for a shot at the third-place finishers. A loss would not be ideal for Iran's chances in the third-place table, as the teams ending with three or four points are more likely to move on to the next round.
This is also set to be an unofficial "Pride Match" — ironic given the anti-LGBTQ laws and cultures present in both of the competing countries. The designation was made by the Seattle World Cup committee prior to the draw, as the match falls on Seattle's Pride Weekend. Both federations have requested that any Pride-related activities be prevented by FIFA, and FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said that the "Pride Match" is not official. But there are still set to be events celebrating Pride outside of the stadium creating an interesting game-day dynamic.
New Zealand vs. Belgium
Friday, June 26 | 11 p.m. ET | Vancouver | TV: Fox
Odds: New Zealand (+1500), Belgium (-600), Tie (+650)
AdvertisementAdvertisementBelgium is desperately hunting for its first win after a somewhat disappointing group stage run. After snatching a 1-1 draw against Egypt to start things off, Belgium faltered to a 0-0 draw against Iran while down a player.
The Red Devils will at least get some help from forward Jérémy Doku, who is back with the team after briefly returning to England to welcome his first child. Though the move received criticism, Belgium and its fans will still be grateful for the return of Doku, who is a fast scoring threat. And Belgium is desperate for goals, having scored only one this entire group stage — and technically, since it was an own goal, they didn't even score it.
AdvertisementAdvertisementStill, Belgium will hope to gain back some momentum against New Zealand, which is probably the least threatening team in the group. Though the Kiwis did end with a 0-0 draw to Iran, the team's 3-1 loss to Egypt left a lot to be desired. New Zealand will certainly do its best, but for the Red Devils, it's now or never.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
