France vs Sweden: Mbappé powers France into Round of 16. France enter the knockout phase of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with confidence after a dominant group stage, while Sweden arrive as underdogs following a tougher path. The two European sides meet in the Round of 32 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with the winner advancing to face Paraguay in the next round.
France topped Group I with a perfect record, winning all three matches and scoring 10 goals while conceding only two. Kylian Mbappé leads their attack, supported by Ousmane Dembélé and Michaël Olise. Didier Deschamps’ squad has looked strong at both ends, with William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano anchoring the defense. Marcus Thuram is unavailable due to injury, but France’s depth remains impressive.
Sweden finished third in Group F with four points, qualifying as one of the best third-placed teams. They have scored seven goals but also conceded seven, making them an exciting but vulnerable side. Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyökeres form a physical forward pair, while Anthony Elanga offers speed on the counter. However, Sweden will miss first-choice defender Isak Hien, who is injured.
This marks the first World Cup meeting between France and Sweden. France have won 12 of their 23 previous meetings, with Sweden winning six. France are favorites, but Sweden have shown they can challenge stronger teams. The winner will face Paraguay in the Round of 16. Expect an entertaining contest between two attack-minded teams.