France defeats Sweden 3-0 to reach World Cup 2026 quarter‑finals
France advanced to the last‑16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3‑0 victory over Sweden at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kylian Mbappé scored twice – in the 45th minute and again in the 74th – bringing his tournament tally to six goals, level with Lionel Messi. Bradley Barcola added a third goal after an assist from Michael Olise, who also provided the decisive pass for Mbappé’s first goal. Olise’s performance, highlighted by five assists in the tournament, placed him among the competition’s top creators. France dominated possession, generated the majority of shots and limited Sweden to a handful of attempts, with goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström making several saves. Coach Didier Deschamps praised the team’s composure and confirmed that the next challenge will be against Paraguay in the quarter‑finals in Philadelphia. The win reinforced France’s status as a tournament favourite and kept Mbappé in contention for the Golden Boot.