Clinical finishing from captain Kylian Mbappé and a sharp strike from Bradley Barcola propelled reigning runners-up France into the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 with a 3-0 victory over Sweden. The Round of 32 clash, held at the New Jersey Stadium near New York, saw Les Bleus dominate the tempo and secure their ticket to the pre-quarterfinals in emphatic fashion.
The breakthrough came just before the interval, puncturing Sweden's early defensive resilience. In the 45th minute, Mbappé opened the scoring with a brilliant finish, giving France a crucial lead right before the halftime whistle.
Les Bleus carried that momentum directly into the second half. In the 53rd minute, Bradley Barcola found the back of the net to double the advantage, putting France firmly in control at 2-0.
Mbappé then put the game completely out of reach in the 74th minute, netting his personal second of the night to seal the 3-0 victory. With the win, France comfortably booked their spot in the tournament's last 16 as they continue their hunt for another world title.
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