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Haaland and Mbappé: The Two Kings Never Meet—Will Mbappé Get a Chance to Face Haaland?

On the early morning of June 27, in the final match of World Cup Group I, Dembélé scored a hat-trick in 32 minutes, France beat Norway 4-1, Mbappé provided two assists, while Haaland sat on the bench the entire match, and the highly anticipated "new duel of the two titans" regrettably did not happen.

Before the match, the media hyped up the "new duel of the two titans." Both players had scored 4 goals in the first two group matches, with a combined market value of €380 million.

They have faced each other multiple times in Champions League history, but their first meeting in a World Cup proper was highly anticipated.

Norway coach Solbakken opted for 10 changes to the lineup, with both Haaland and Ødegaard on the bench and never entering the match.

The logic behind Norway's rotation

Norway had already secured qualification, and the difference between finishing second or first in the group is not significant in the knockout stage (the group runner-up will face Côte d'Ivoire).

The first two matches against Senegal were extremely exhausting, with several players suffering from cramps, so it was necessary to preserve the core players' energy for a possible 120-minute battle in the knockout rounds.

Haaland sat on the bench the entire match, with cameras capturing his wry smile.

Mbappé's performance in this match

He did not score, hitting the crossbar 20 seconds into the match. Overall, he was unlucky in front of goal but delivered two key assists, playing as a passer to lead the attack.

He formed a "Mba-Dembélé connection" with Dembélé, assisting each other for two consecutive matches, showing chemistry.

Will Mbappé have a chance to face Haaland?

1. Potential path in this World Cup

France advances to the Round of 32 as group winners, Norway advances as group runners-up, and the two teams are in separate halves of the bracket.

Norway's Round of 32 opponent is Côte d'Ivoire. If Norway wins, they could advance to deeper rounds; France also needs consecutive wins to go far.

Theoretically, if both teams can reach the final, Mbappé and Haaland will face off on the biggest stage of this World Cup. But this path requires Norway to defeat several strong opponents in a row, which is extremely difficult.

2. Other opportunities at the national team level

The World Cup is not the only battleground. The two countries, France and Norway, could still meet in competitions such as the European Championship and the UEFA Nations League.

Norway's overall strength is relatively weak, and Haaland's chances of participating in major tournaments are limited. European Championship qualifiers or Nations League matches are more realistic scenarios for them to meet.

3. Ongoing duels at the club level

Mbappé plays for Real Madrid, Haaland plays for Manchester City, and the two teams have faced each other many times in the Champions League. In past encounters, Mbappé's team has won all matches, but Haaland has scored more goals.

The Champions League is the most stable and frequent platform for the two to compete, and they will have opportunities to meet every year for the foreseeable future.

4. Realistic challenges

Norway's squad lacks depth, relying heavily on Haaland and Ødegaard. Their rotation in the group stage already exposed the gap in substitute quality.

France's forward line is packed with talent. Dembélé, Olise, and other supporting players are in hot form, while Mbappé's focus on assists highlights his role as the system's core.

Haaland himself seemed frustrated by not getting any playing time, but Norway's strategic decision was reasonable—sacrificing a meaningless group match to prepare its full-strength lineup for the knockout rounds.