Wednesday July 1, 2026
France have hit top gear at the World Cup, and Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise led the way as Sweden were swept aside 3-0 to send Les Bleus into a last-16 meeting with Paraguay.
Mbappe struck twice, while Olise was a constant menace in a one-sided last-32 tie on Tuesday at New York New Jersey Stadium, where 80,663 spectators watched France take control from the outset. The breakthrough arrived just before halftime after the French had already struck the woodwork twice, with Mbappe and Olise both going close.
The French were on top throughout against a limited Swedish side, utterly dominating in terms of possession and shots on goal.
Olise then turned provider, laying on Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second goal in the 53rd minute before producing a glorious pass for Mbappe to seal the result in style.
Mbappe’s brace took him level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the tournament’s golden boot race.
The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals in total, leaving him only one short of Messi’s record tally of 19, a mark the 27-year-old will be eager to pursue further.
After scoring his first, Mbappe raced over to embrace coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final group match against Norway after returning home for his mother’s funeral.
Deschamps is due to leave his post at the end of the competition, closing a 14-year spell that has brought major success.
For him, an exit in the round of 32 would have been an awkward ending to a remarkable tenure. He captained France to their first World Cup title in 1998 and later guided them to a second in 2018.
That 1998 triumph on home soil included a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the last 16, sealed by Laurent Blanc’s golden goal in extra time.
Now France will meet the South Americans again in the same round, with Saturday’s game set for Philadelphia.
They will go into that match as overwhelming favorites.
Mbappe and Olise once more stood at the heart of everything, while Ousmane Dembele showed flashes of his quality and Barcola was chosen ahead of Desire Doue as the fourth forward.
Sweden, meanwhile, still carried attacking threat through Premier League trio Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But Graham Potter’s side rarely had the ball and never found a way into the contest, meaning their tournament is over.
Even so, simply reaching this stage can be viewed as an achievement after they needed a playoff route to make it to North America.
Tuesday’s match had briefly offered Sweden hope when Olise slipped Mbappe through the middle for what looked like a 20th-minute opener, only for the effort to be ruled out for offside.
That moment only intensified France’s pressure, and the opening goal soon followed.
Their football at times was dazzling. Mbappe hit the post after a cross from Jules Kounde flashed across goal, and Adrien Rabiot sent another effort just over.
Olise then rattled an upright with a stunning bicycle kick before Dembele fired the rebound wide.
The deadlock was broken right on halftime, after an Olise shot was pushed behind by Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.
From the ensuing corner, Dembele and Olise combined before finding Mbappe, who finished the move.
Sweden needed the break to regroup, but they were undone again eight minutes after the restart when Olise slid a brilliant pass through Gustaf Lagerbielke’s legs for Barcola, who lashed home.
Olise was denied when clean through, but he soon made up for it with an exquisite assist for Mbappe, who curled in France’s third on 74 minutes.
France look untouchable, even if sterner challenges await, though Paraguay will know just how difficult they are likely to be.
