France vs Sweden FIFA World Cup 2026 Match highlights: Mbappe levels Messi in Golden Boot race
France vs Sweden FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 Match Today highlights: Mbappe could have scored more goals: one of his goals was ruled offside before he hit the upright.
· The Indian Express · JoinFrance vs Sweden World Cup 2026 Match highlights: France beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup, thanks to a Kylian Mbappe brace and a Bradley Barcola strike. Mbappe could have scored more goals: he came close to opening France’s tally when he slotted the ball into goal only for it to be chalked off for an offside. Mbappe then hit the upright as did Olise with a stunning overhead kick!
France’s win came a day after they watched prospective Round of 16 opponents Germany crash out in a penalty shootout. It was the first time that France and Sweden were facing off in a FIFA World Cup encounter in their history.
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Before France’s imperious win, the Round of 32 had not been a happy hunting ground for teams classified as favourites: Germany and the Netherlands both crashed out in penalty shootout at the hands of Paraguay and Morocco respectively while Brazil only survived being dragged into extra time by Japan thanks to a last-gasp goal.
LIVE: GOLDEN BOOT RACE (Click on the + sign to expand)
6 goals: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
6 goals (and 2 assists): Kylian Mbappe (France)
5 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Ousmane Dembele (France)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Scroll down to follow our liveblog from the France vs Sweden FIFA World Cup game
France, seeking their third title after 1998 and 2018, swept its group matches for the first time since 1998, joined by Argentina and Mexico as the only nations to win all three games. Sweden’s results were all over the place during group play and it finished third in Group F. Sweden beat Tunisia 5-1 in the opener before losing to the Netherlands 5-1 and then fighting to a 1-1 draw with Japan.
Scroll down to follow our blog from the France vs Sweden FIFA World Cup game
Live Updates
Jul 1, 2026 04:32 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: FULL-TIME
France are through to the round of 16 where Paraguay await in Philadelphia!
Mbappe is locked with Messi at the top of the goalscoring charts. Olsie, meanwhile, is the man pulling the strings, creating as many as five goals for France at this World Cup already!
Sweden's race is run. They came to the round of 32 as the third-best team in their group. And now they're headed home.
Jul 1, 2026 04:23 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Sweden have their best chance of pulling back a goal as Viktor Gyokeres is fed the ball in front of the goal. But his shot from point blank range is parries away by the French keeper, who dives to his left and palms the ball away from trouble.
France lead 3-0 as we come close to an end of this game.
Jul 1, 2026 04:09 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: GOAL!
Kylian Mbappe scores his 2nd goal of the night to draw level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race at the FIFA World Cup. Once again, it's an assist from Olise. He threads a ball through a thicket of Swedish legs to feed Mbappe, who narrowly beats being offside before thumping the ball into the goal!
France have a 3-0 lead over Sweden while Mbappe has six goals at this World Cup.
Here's what the Golden Boot race looks like now:
6 goals: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
6 goals (and 2 assists): Kylian Mbappe (France)
5 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Ousmane Dembele (France)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Jul 1, 2026 03:59 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Hydration break
It's a hot day in New Jersey. So both sets of players would be happy to take a hydration break, one of the few days in the World Cup that the hydration break is actually justified.
As the Associated Press noted: It was 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), sunny and humid at the 5 p.m. kickoff with poor air quality. During the first half hydration break, Lucas Digne let himself be doused by a sprinkler.
Jul 1, 2026 03:44 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: GOAL!
Bradley Barcola scores France's 2nd goal in the 53rd minute and once again it's Olise that threads through a delightful pass that turns into a French goal. Barcola absolutely thumps the ball past the keeper into the net!
France lead 2-0 against Sweden
Jul 1, 2026 03:37 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: 2nd half underway
here we go! The second half is off at the MetLife Stadium.
Jul 1, 2026 03:23 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: half-time
Half-time in a game where it was largely France attacking and threatening the Swedish goal all game. They hit the woodwork twice. had a goal disallowed for offside. And still lead 1-0 at half-time.
A good half if you are a French supporter. A harrowing one if you are a Swedish one.
Jul 1, 2026 03:17 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: GOAL!
With half-time minutes away, Mbappe is fed the ball on the left flank from partner-in-crime Dembele. He twinkle toes his way past the defence and shoot the ball into the goal.
France lead 1-0 with 45 minutes gone
The significance of Mbappe's goal:
Mbappé scored his ninth goal in the knockout stage of the World Cup, breaking a tie with Brazilian greats Leonidas and Ronaldo for the most in the history of the tournament.
Mbappé’s fifth goal of this year's tournament tied him with Norway striker Erling Haaland and put him one back of Argentina forward Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. With 17 goals in 18 World Cup games, Mbappe moved two behind Messi on the all-time scoring list. Messi has played in 29 World Cup games in his career.
How Mbappe celebrated the goal:
The 27-year-old Mbappé ran immediately to coach Didier Deschamps after scoring. This was Deschamps' first game back on the sideline after missing the group stage finale to fly back to Europe for his mother’s funeral.
Jul 1, 2026 03:11 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: OLISE HITS POST
Two back-to-back chances for France. From a clearance, the ball is falling into the Sweden box with a loop, Olise has his back to the goal. But he decides to shoot. With a stunning attempt at an overhead kick, Olise connects beautifully but the ball hits the upright and ricochets off. And right afterwards, Dembele has a chance where he tries to curl the ball into the goal. But misses.
Jul 1, 2026 03:05 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: MBAPPE HITS POST
Kylian Mbappe hits the upright with his shot from a dangerous area on the left of goal. He's fed the ball from a cross and he can score by picking a wide gap in front of him. But he sends his shot straight into the upright!
After 32 minutes, FRA 0-0 SWE
Jul 1, 2026 03:03 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Rabiot! France work the ball into the box after a phase of possession. the ball comes to Rabiot on the left just a few yards from the goal. His shot is blocked by the Swedish keeper with an outstretched leg.
France are knocking on the door with increased frequency now. But still goalless.
Jul 1, 2026 02:55 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: GOAL DISALLOWED
Mbappe has put the ball past the Swedish keeper Zetterstrom. But Mbappe is marginally offside, so won't count!
But that was some slick movement from the French strikeforce to feed Mbappe and help him almost break the offside trap of the Swedish defence.
Jul 1, 2026 02:52 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Sweden have some tidy passing as they try to put the French goal under pressure. And then Barcola receives the ball deep in his half on the left flank, and goes on a mazy run which ends in him entering the Sweden box without any resistance and then shoots the ball. Unfortunately, it's too high!
After 19 minutes, FRA 0-0 SWE
Jul 1, 2026 02:48 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
France have their first chance in the 15th minute. Digne with a shot from 30 yards out that’s not threatening at all and the Swedish keeper holds on easily. By this time against Norway, France had had six attempts at goal.
After 15 minutes, FRA 0-0 SWE
Jul 1, 2026 02:37 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Viktor Gyokeres and Isak combine to create the game's first chance. It's Isak who has the ball at his feet on the left flank with a defender in front of him and the goalkeeper to beat. His shot sneaks between the two feet of the defender but finds itself in the palms of the keeper.
Three minutes into the game. No goals.
Jul 1, 2026 02:35 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: here we go
We're off at the MetLife Stadium. Swedes in their yellow and blue kits while France have their traditional blue jerseys. Packed stands as you'd expect for this game. The sun's out, and we have a great game in front of us.
Jul 1, 2026 02:18 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Kickoff shortly
We're just awaiting kickoff in the France vs Sweden game, which will happen in another 15 minutes. Can Mbappe or Dembele stride past Messi in the Golden Boot race? here's where all the players are:
6 goals: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
5 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway)
4 goals (and 2 assists): Kylian Mbappe (France)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Ousmane Dembele (France)
4 goals (and 1 assist): Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
Jul 1, 2026 01:55 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE:
A terrifying prospect for any team's defence at this World Cup is facing France's attackers. With Kylian Mbappe leading the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation for the 2022 World Cup finalists and with a troika of Dembele, Olise and Barcola behind him, with Tchouameni and Rabiot holding in midfield, France are an intimidating prospect.
Jul 1, 2026 01:38 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Barcola over Doue for France
Didier Deschamps, who has returned to the French camp after missing the Norway game to attend the funeral of his mother, has opted to pick Bradley Barcola over Doue for today's game. He's play in a system where he links with Dembele, Olise and Mbappe up front. Scary!
AS AN ASIDE, BBC Sport is reporting that Barcola is on the radar of Arsenal in the transfer window. The Paris St-Germain forward is apparently available this summer. A report on BBC notes that Arsenal have been tracking Barcola for some time and their scouts will watch him in the World Cup last-32 match against Sweden.
Barcola's current deal with PSG ends in 2028. Apparently, Liverpool are also believed to be tracking him.
Jul 1, 2026 01:29 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Line-ups revealed
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba; Digne; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Dembele, Barcola, Olies; Mbappe
France Subs: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Konate, T Hernandez, L Hernandez, Lacroix, Kone, Kante, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Doue, Mateta
Sweden (4-3-3): Zetterstrom; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Svensson, Gundmundsson; Stroud, Bergvall, Ayari; Isak, Gyokeres Elanga,
Sweden Subs: V Johansson, Nordfeldt, H Johansson, Ekdal, Starfelt, Smith, Bernardsson, Nygren, Sema, Karlstrom, Svanberg, Zeneli, Nilsson, Ali
Jul 1, 2026 01:22 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: what happened in France's last game
Ousmane Dembélé entered the Golden Boot race in France's group stage game with Norway with a first-half hat trick. Thanks to his goals, France beat Norway 4-1 at the World Cup.
Dembélé's goals came in the seventh, 20th and 32nd minutes. It was the first first-half hat trick at the World Cup since Russia forward Oleg Salenko scored three of his five goals in the opening 45 minutes against Cameroon at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Jul 1, 2026 01:06 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: What Sweden could look like today
Sweden’s predicted lineup: (3-4-2-1): Nordfeldt; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Gudmundsson; Bernhardsson, Karlstrom, Ayari, Stroud; Elanga, Isak; Gyokeres
Jul 1, 2026 12:55 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: How France could line up
France’s predicted lineup: (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe
N’Golo Kante is doubtful for today's game due to physical discomfort. We already know that Marcus Thuram is out for this game due to a calf injury.
Meanwhile, William Saliba is expected to return in central defence after he missed the game against Norway due to back pain.
Jul 1, 2026 12:27 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Haaland throws down the gauntlet
In the Norway versus Ivory Coast, Erling Haaland has scored Norway's second goal with full-time approaching. But more importantly, the goal sends Haaland into second spot with five goals ahead of French duo of Mbappe and Dembele, who both have four goals.
Jul 1, 2026 12:14 AM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Injury news
France striker Marcus Thuram won’t be available against Sweden because of a calf injury and midfielder N’Golo Kanté is uncertain.
Sweden defender Isak Hien will miss the match with a hamstring injury that forced him from last Thursday’s game against Japan in the 37th minute.
Jun 30, 2026 11:57 PM IST
France vs Sweden, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Mbappe resumes Golden Boot race
Here's what the Golden Boot race looks like at the moment:
6 goals: Lionel Messi (Argentina)
4 goals: Kylian Mbappe (France)
4 goals: Ousmane Dembele (France)
4 goals: Vinicius Junior (Brazil)
4 goals: Erling Haaland (Norway)
Haaland is currently playing for Norway against Ivory Coast after sitting out their final group stage game. And he's not scored yet today.
Jun 30, 2026 11:37 PM IST
HOLA
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the FIFA World Cup game between France and Sweden, where the winner books a game against Paraguay in the Round of 16. Paraguay just eliminated Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout half a day ago.
Will the real France, full of attacking talent, step up on big stage
Frightfully abundant in attacking talent during a period that has the makings of a dynasty but is peppered with the inability to win a slew of major trophies, France could have been the Brazil of 1958-70.
The South American giants carved out a legacy falling only once, to the Italians, in a 12-year cycle of dominance built by an assembly line of domestic talent lining up behind the mercurial Pele. As France head coach Didier Deschamps’ prepares for his swansong, his charges have to show they know how to get the job done.
Kylian Mbappe is now 27 and France’s leading man. Captain, central striker, bereft of any defensive responsibilities, the Frenchman is where he would like to be. The last visual of him from a World Cup was one of singularity: three goals in 120+ minutes of football, followed by one of three in the penalty shootout in the 2022 final against Argentina.
Mbappe joined Geoff Hurst as scorers of hat-tricks in a final, but came out on the wrong end of the result.
Qatar would forever be a scar.
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