MetLife Stadium witnessed a display of power where Those led by Didier Deschamps crushed a soulless Sweden 3-0. With this result, the French team seals its ticket to the round of 16 of the North America World Cup 2026where Paraguay awaits you, Germany’s surprising executioner.
Read more: Paraguay revives an old score pending against France in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup
From the nap to the Gallic gale
The start of the game was the perfect sleeping pill for the fans. During the first half hour, Sweden stood in an ultra-disciplined low blockentrusting the miracle to the solitary careers of Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak. France played the baton, but without haste. A warning from Lucas Digne in the 15th minute was the only thing salvageable from a gray start.
However, After the hydration break, Francia stretched and activated roller mode. First, the lineman drowned out Mbappé’s scream for a millimeter offside. Shortly after, a real bombardment broke out: Rabiot tested Zetterström’s reflexes from a distance, Mbappé sent a ball to the post with an empty goal and Michael Olise almost scored the goal of the tournament with a scissors spectacular that also crashed into the woodwork. The VAR even forgave the expulsion of the Swede Victor Lindelöf after a very tough tackle on Olisea reflection of a Sweden completely overwhelmed.
Kylian’s show and Deschamps’ board
The Scandinavian wall fell just before half-time, in the 45th minute, thanks to a piece of blackboard genius. Short corner, perfect triangulation, assist from Ousmane Dembélé and the talent of Kylian Mbappé invented an excellent maneuver in the area to break Gyökeres’ hip and put it into the long post. After the goal, the ’10’ ran to the substitute bench to merge into a emotional hug with Didier Deschamps, dedicating the score to his coachwho is grieving the recent death of his mother.
With this score, the Real Madrid forward continued to expand his legend. Mbappé thus added his fifth goal in the tournament, consolidating himself in the fight for the scorers table of this edition and keeping on the hunt for the most exclusive records in world football.
Olise assumes command and Barcola sentences
The second half had no history. Sweden left without faith and France smelled blood. In 53′, the Gauls signed a work of art in pure verticality: Aurélien Tchouaméni filtered for Michael Olise, he enabled Bradley Barcola and the PSG winger controlled and shot violently to make it 2-0.
From there, the game became Olise’s garden. Bayern’s “total player” got tired of filtering impossible balls. At 74′, he rubbed the lamp once more and left completely alone for Mbappé to sign his double and the final 3-0.
Read more: Mbappé on Paraguay: “They have proven to be a team that must be taken seriously”
This last work of art meant Mbappé’s sixth goal in this edition of the tournament, a figure that provisionally ties him with Lionel Messi in the scoring table of this World Cup. Furthermore, the French star equals the Argentine captain in the historical classification of scorers of the World Cups, being just one point away from surpassing it.
Too easy for a France that closed the night with Mbappé’s sixth goal and the fifth assist from an imperial Olise. Now, ‘Les Bleus’ are heading to Philadelphia. Next July 4th They will measure forces against an emboldened Paraguay who comes with his chest inflated after killing the Germans on penalties.
Technical sheet:
France (3): Mike Maignan; Lucas Digne (Theo Hernández, minute 78), Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Jules Koundé (Malo Gusto, minute 75); Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise (Rayan Cherki, minute 85); Ousmane Dembélé (Désiré Doué, minute 75), Bradley Barcola and Kylian Mbappé (Mateta, minute 85). Selector: Didier Deschamps
Sweden (0): Jacob Zetterström; Gustaf Lagerbielke, Victor Lindelöf, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Daniel Svensson (Daniel Svensson, 82nd minute); Eliot Stroud (Taha Ali, 65th minute), Lucas Bergvall (Besfort Zeneli, 65th minute), Yasin Ayari (Benjamin Nygren, 82nd minute); Anthony Elanga, Alexander Isak (Gustaf Nilsson, 89th minute) and Viktor Gyökeres. Selector: Graham Potter
Goals: 1-0, minute 45: Mbappé. 2-0, minute 53: Barcola. 3-0, minute 74: Mbappé. Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands). Without reprimands. Incidents: Match of the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, before 80,663 spectators. Full capacity, according to FIFA.
