France Defeats Sweden 3-0 in World Cup Round of 32

France defeated Sweden 3-0 in a World Cup round-of-32 match Tuesday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Bradley Barcola added one goal. Mbappé opened the scoring in the 45th minute after goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström tipped a shot from Ousmane Dembélé.

Mbappé received a short-corner pass from Dembélé near the byline, took a crossover step past Viktor Gyökeres and scored from just outside the 6-yard box. Barcola made the score 2-0 in the 53rd minute after Aurélien Tchouaméni passed to Michael Olise, who nutmegged Gustaf Lagerbielke. Mbappé added his second goal in the 74th minute.

Mbappé now has 18 goals in 18 World Cup appearances, one behind Lionel Messi’s career record of 19 in 29 matches. He also set a new mark with 10 goals in World Cup knockout-round matches. France has scored three or more goals in five consecutive World Cup matches and outscored opponents 13-2 in the 2026 tournament.

Olise recorded his fifth assist, the most in a single World Cup since 1994. France outshot Sweden 25-7, including 15-3 in the first half. The match drew 80,663 spectators in 90-degree Fahrenheit heat at the 5 p.m.

Kickoff. Mbappé said through a translator: “I’m very aware of who I am, how I play, what I shall do, but it’s not just about me. ” France coach Didier Deschamps returned to the sideline after attending his mother’s funeral in France.

France will face Paraguay in the round of 16 on July 4 in Philadelphia. The winner will face Canada or Morocco in a quarterfinal five days later at Foxborough, Massachusetts.