2018 FIFA World Cup Group C

Group C of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 16 to 26 June 2018. The group consisted of eventual champions France, Australia, Peru, and Denmark. The top two teams, France and Denmark, advanced to the round of 16.

France, Denmark, and the winners of the play-off between Australia and Peru (ultimately Australia) were drawn into the same group again for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

In the round of 16:

All times listed are local time.

The two teams had met in four previous matches, most recently in a 2013 friendly, a 6–0 France victory.

After a disjointed first half, the game sparked into life shortly after the interval as referee Andrés Cunha initially disallowed a French penalty, but after a call from the VAR, changed his decision and awarded the penalty to France, deciding that Josh Risdon had clipped Antoine Griezmann just inside the area. Griezmann would convert the penalty, which was the first World Cup penalty awarded by VAR. The opener was soon cancelled out just four minutes later by another penalty, Australian midfielder and captain, Mile Jedinak, slotting home after Samuel Umtiti handled the ball in the box, and they looked on course to hold one of the pre-tournament favourites until Paul Pogba's lobbed effort confirmed by goal line technology deflected off Australia full-back Aziz Behich and the crossbar to fall inches over the goal-line.

The two penalties were scored in the game between France and Australia were only four minutes, seven seconds apart - the shortest period of time between two penalties being scored by different sides in a World Cup match. Both countries also featured their youngest ever World Cup players in Daniel Arzani at 19 years and 163 days and Kylian Mbappé at 19 years and 178 days.

The two teams had never met before in a FIFA-sanctioned match, but both teams previously faced each other in an exhibition match at the 1997 U.S. Cup (a 2–1 Denmark victory).