France defeats Sweden 3-0 to advance in World Cup

By Arjun Nair / 01.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 30 June 2026 — 3 min read

France secures dominant victory against Sweden

France delivered a commanding performance against Sweden, securing a 3-0 victory in the World Cup round of 32. The match, held at the New York-New Jersey stadium, saw Kylian Mbappé score twice, bringing his tournament total to six goals, level with Lionel Messi in the golden boot race. This win maintains France’s perfect record of four wins from four matches in the tournament.

The French side demonstrated superior control throughout the game, dominating both possession and shots on goal. Despite Sweden’s initial defensive efforts and counter-attacking threats, France found their rhythm and broke through with impressive attacking play.

Key moments and standout performances

The first half presented an interesting contest, with Sweden attempting to utilise their counter-attacking options through players like Anthony Elanga and Viktor Gyökeres, aiming to link up with Alexander Isak. However, close marking from French defenders Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba prevented any significant threats to goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

France initially faced a compact Swedish defence, with Mbappé resorting to long-range efforts out of frustration. The turning point arrived around the half-hour mark, following a forceful drive from Adrian Rabiot that Swedish goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström managed to turn around the post. This moment ignited a period of intense French pressure, leading to numerous opportunities.

Before the opening goal, France hit the woodwork twice, once through Mbappé and once through Michael Olise. Olise, in particular, was in scintillating form, showcasing a virtuoso performance throughout the match. His efforts included a perfect scissor kick that struck Zetterström’s right post, with Ousmane Dembelé sending the follow-up over the bar. Olise also forced a sprawling save from Zetterström with a shot from distance.

The deadlock was broken just before half-time. Following an Olise effort that was tipped behind for a corner, Dembelé and Olise combined from the set-piece. Dembelé then played the ball quickly to Mbappé inside the box, who, despite the tight angle and numerous defenders, bent a shot past Zetterström. This goal was celebrated with coach Didier Deschamps, who had recently returned after missing France’s final group game.

France extended their lead eight minutes into the second half. After Sweden lost possession, Aurelién Tchouaméni passed to Olise, who delivered a perfectly weighted pass between the Swedish centre-half and full-back. This allowed Bradley Barcola to stride into the box and smash the ball into the net.

Olise continued to be a central figure, drifting across the forward line and creating danger. He forced another save from Zetterström with a shot from over 20 yards. His exceptional play culminated in his second assist of the game with 15 minutes remaining, setting up Mbappé for his second goal. Mbappé curled the ball into the far side of the goal, completing a convincing victory for France.

Looking ahead for Les Bleus

Mbappé’s two goals in this match brought his total World Cup goals to 18, placing him just one goal behind Messi’s overall record of 19. The 27-year-old captain will continue to chase this mark as France progresses in the tournament.

Deschamps, who is set to step down at the end of the competition after 14 successful years, saw his team deliver a performance that avoided an anticlimactic departure from the tournament. Deschamps previously captained France to a World Cup victory in 1998 and coached them to glory in 2018.

France will now face Paraguay in the last 16. This upcoming match will be a repeat of a 1998 World Cup last-16 encounter, where France secured a 1-0 victory with a golden goal in extra time. The next fixture is scheduled for Saturday in Philadelphia.

Source: theguardian.com