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The much-hyped FIFA World Cup 2026 showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé did not happen after Norway rested Haaland and nine other first-team players against France. With Norway already qualified for the knockout stage, coach Ståle Solbakken prioritized squad rotation and player fitness over the blockbuster clash, keeping his star striker fresh for the Round of 32.

The much-anticipated showdown between Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé failed to materialize after Norway coach Ståle Solbakken rested the Manchester City striker for his side's final FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I clash against France.

The meeting had been heavily billed as the latest installment in football's next great individual rivalry, with Haaland and Mbappé—two of the sport's biggest stars—expected to go head-to-head on the World Cup stage for the first time. Fans had eagerly anticipated seeing the prolific Norwegian striker face off against France's captain after both players enjoyed impressive starts to the tournament.

Haaland was among 10 players rested by Solbakken after Norway had already secured qualification for the Round of 32 with victories over Iraq and Senegal. With a place in the knockout rounds already guaranteed, the Norwegian coach chose to rotate almost his entire starting XI to keep his key players fresh and avoid unnecessary injury risks ahead of the business end of the competition.

The decision meant the highly anticipated Haaland-versus-Mbappé battle never got underway from kickoff, despite weeks of build-up surrounding the clash between two of football's biggest superstars. Haaland entered the match among the tournament's leading scorers after netting four goals in Norway's opening two matches, while Mbappé continued to spearhead France's attack.