Jørgen Strand Larsen is set for a heavyweight Crystal Palace subplot when Norway face France in their final World Cup Group I fixture on Friday night.
The Palace striker is part of the Norway squad preparing for a meeting with the 2022 finalists in Boston, a match CPFC’s own tournament guide lists for Friday, 26 June at 20:00 BST. It could also bring him directly up against Eagles teammates Maxence Lacroix and Jean-Philippe Mateta, both included in France’s World Cup plans.
Conference League winner five days ago, brace for Norway today ❤️💙 Jørgen Strand Larsen.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 2026
Palace Interest Runs Through Group I
Norway have already punched their ticket to the last 32 after a 3-2 win over Senegal, with The Guardian noting that Erling Haaland’s double secured their first knockout appearance since 1998.
For Palace, the intrigue is broader than Haaland against Kylian Mbappé. Strand Larsen’s physical presence gives Norway a direct route if Ståle Solbakken needs a late attacking shift, while Lacroix’s Palace profile underlines why France trust him after a season of elite defensive consistency.
The 26-year-old centre-back made 55 Palace appearances last season and was later included in France’s 2026 World Cup squad. That makes this a live Selhurst Park scouting exercise for Pierre Sage before pre-season even starts.
Strand Larsen’s progression was already tracked by ReadCrystalPalace after Norway secured their last-32 place. A strong cameo against France would sharpen that momentum further.
