Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Michael Olise provided two assists in a dominant France display, beating Sweden 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 32.
France 3-0 Sweden
Goals: 1-0 Mbappé 45′ (assist: Dembélé), 2-0 Barcola 53’ (assist: Olise), 3-0 Mbappé 74′ (assist: Olise),
France entered this as heavy favourites, having won all three group-stage matches — against Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0) and Norway (4-1) — and scoring ten goals in the process. Head coach Didier Deschamps returned to the dugout for this fixture, having missed the Norway game to attend his mother’s funeral.
Sweden, meanwhile, qualified as one of the best third-placed sides, having beaten Tunisia 5-1 but suffering a 5-1 defeat to the Netherlands and drawing 1-1 with Japan.
Sweden make a bright start
Sweden kicked off and made an encouraging start, with Alexander Isak testing Mike Maignan with an early effort in the third minute, though the shot was deflected and comfortably saved.
France gradually took control of possession, but Sweden remained alert in their defensive shape, deploying a 3-4-1-2 formation with Anthony Elanga operating on the right rather than as a number ten. Lucas Digne had France’s first attempt on goal in the 15th minute, firing from distance, but it was a comfortable stop for goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterström.
France turn up the heat
France began to assert themselves around the 20-minute mark. Mbappé had a goal disallowed for offside after being played through by Olise, and moments earlier Bradley Barcola had gone close with a solo run.
After the hydration break, Adrien Rabiot saw a rasping close-range effort well saved by Zetterström in the 30th minute. In the 32nd minute, Mbappé struck the left post from a Koundé cutback. Then, in the 36th minute, Olise produced one of the moments of the tournament — a spectacular overhead scissor-kick that crashed off the right post, with Ousmane Dembélé’s follow-up going wide.
Mbappé breaks the deadlock
France’s pressure finally told in the 45th minute. Olise played a short corner to Dembélé, who slipped the ball into Mbappé’s path. The striker’s quick feet left the Swedish defence trailing, and he curled the ball into the far corner for 1-0.
It was a thoroughly deserved lead. In first-half stoppage time, Sweden almost levelled when Elliot Stroud found himself completely free from a counter-attack, but he blazed his effort wide from close range.
Barcola doubles the lead
France resumed in control and doubled their advantage in the 53rd minute. Aurélien Tchouameni won the ball in midfield and drove forward before finding Olise, who spotted Barcola’s run in behind the Swedish defence.
Barcola kept his composure and smashed the ball into the bottom corner from close to the penalty spot to make it 2-0. It was Olise’s fourth direct assist of the tournament, drawing him level with Brazil’s Bruno Guimarães at the top of the assists chart.
Olise and Mbappé put the game to bed
France continued to press for more goals. Olise was involved in virtually every attack, and in the 71st minute he was denied by a fine Zetterström save after being released by Mbappé.
Three minutes later, the pair combined again to devastating effect. Olise, wide on the left, threaded a pass through the Swedish defence, taking three defenders out of the game. Mbappé’s control was perfect and he curled the ball into the far corner for 3-0 — his second goal of the evening and his 18th World Cup goal in total.
Sweden made several substitutions in an attempt to change the game, but France were far too strong. Viktor Gyökeres came closest to a consolation goal in the 89th minute, but Maignan made a fine save. The final whistle confirmed a 3-0 victory for France, who will now meet Paraguay in the last 16 on 4 July.
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