France face Sweden in World Cup 2026 last 32 clash

By Arjun Nair / 01.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 30 June 2026 — 3 min read

France and Sweden are currently competing in their World Cup 2026 Round of 32 fixture in New Jersey. The match, officiated by Dutch official Danny Makkelie, began after the national anthems were played. Both teams are vying for a spot in the Round of 16, where the winner is expected to face Paraguay.

France entered the knockout stage with an unbeaten record, topping Group I. Their squad, led by manager Didier Deschamps, includes prominent players such as Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Michael Olise. Deschamps has made four changes to the starting lineup from their previous match against Norway, bringing in Lucas Digne, Adrien Rabiot, William Saliba, and Bradley Barcola. Mike Maignan is in goal, with Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and Saliba in defence. The midfield features Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot, supporting forwards Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola, with Kylian Mbappe captaining the side.

Sweden, managed by Graham Potter, advanced as one of the best third-placed teams from Group F. Potter acknowledged the challenge, stating that his team would need to produce something special against France, highlighting their quality and past World Cup success. The Sweden lineup includes Jacob Widell Zetterstrom as goalkeeper, defenders Gabriel Gudmundsson, Victor Lindelof (captain), and Gustaf Lagerbielke. The midfield consists of Elliot Stroud, Lucas Bergvall, Yasin Ayari, and Daniel Svensson, while the attack features Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga.

Early Match Developments

The match started with Sweden showing an attacking intent. Alexander Isak made an early run, firing a shot through Upamecano’s legs, though the effort was straight at the French goalkeeper. The early minutes saw several fouls, disrupting France’s rhythm. Michael Olise was among the players fouled, indicating a physical start to the game.

Anthony Elanga has been noted for his readiness to pounce when Sweden regains possession, and he has been seen chasing balls sent up the pitch. There was an early free-kick awarded to France after Ayari was deemed to have gone in too strong, but Sweden’s defence managed to handle the situation.

The conditions in New Jersey are warm, suggesting that a hydration break will be well-received by the players. Sweden has adopted a strategy of keeping players behind the ball when defending, then attempting to launch quick counter-attacks.

Team Preparations and Expectations

Didier Deschamps has urged his players not to underestimate Sweden, acknowledging their physicality and attacking threat. France is considered a favourite for the tournament, with their star-studded attack consistently troubling opposition defences. However, the tournament has already seen some surprises, with Germany and the Netherlands being knocked out in their respective Round of 32 matches.

Sweden had to make a forced change to their starting XI due to Isak Hien’s hamstring injury, which ruled him out of the tournament. Lucas Bergvall and Daniel Svensson were brought into midfield as replacements. Despite being seen as underdogs, Sweden has shown resilience throughout the group stage, relying on disciplined defending and quick counter-attacks.

The Sweden women’s team achieved a third-place finish at their last World Cup in 2023.

Source: theguardian.com