Live Updates of France vs Sweden World Cup 2026 Match: France beat Sweden 3–0 in the round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, thanks to a brace from Kylian Mbappe and a strike from Bradley Barkola. Mbappe could have scored more: He came close to opening France’s tally when he slotted the ball into the goal for offside. Mbappé then hit an overhead kick straight like a hostage!
France’s win came a day after seeing eventual Round of 16 opponents Germany beat in a penalty shootout. It was the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup that France and Sweden were facing each other.
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Before France’s stunning victory, the round of 32 was not a happy hunt for the teams classified as favourites: Germany and the Netherlands both lost in penalty shootouts to Paraguay and Morocco respectively, while Brazil only survived extra time thanks to a last-gasp goal by Japan.
6 goals (and 2 assists): Kylian Mbappe (France)
5 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Ousmane Dembele (France)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
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France, seeking their third title since 1998 and 2018, won the group stage for the first time since 1998, joining Argentina and Mexico as the only nations to win all three. Sweden’s results were all over the place during group play and they finished third in Group F. Sweden were beaten 5-1 by the Netherlands in their first match before beating Tunisia 5-1 and then drew 1-1 with Japan.
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Will the real France, full of attacking talent, make it to the big stage?
On June 26, 2026, in Foxboro, Mass., near Boston. Ousmane Dembele, right, of France celebrates with teammates Kylian Mbappe, center, and others after scoring his side’s third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between Norway and France here. (AP Photo/Martin Messner)
A terrifying abundance of attacking talent in a period in the making of a dynasty but unable to win many major trophies, France could have been Brazil 1958-70.
The South American giants carved out a legacy that fell only once for the Italians in a 12-year cycle of dominance and was built by an assembly line of home-grown talent behind the mercurial Pele. As France head coach Didier Deschamps prepares for his swansong, his charges will have to show they know how to get the job done.
Kylian Mbappe is now 27 years old and France’s leading man. Captain, central striker, deprived of any defensive responsibilities, the Frenchman is where he would like to be. His final appearance at the World Cup was singular: three goals in 120+ minutes of football, followed by one of three goals in a penalty shootout in the 2022 final against Argentina.
Mbappe joined Jeff Hurst as scorers of hat-tricks in the final, but came out on the wrong end of the result.
Qatar will be a stain forever.