France beats Sweden as Mbappe draws with Messi in World Cup leaderboard chart | World Cup 2026 news

Kylian Mbappe and Bradley Barcola scored, while Michael Olise scored, as France beat Sweden 3-0 to reach the last 16.

Kylian Mbappe scored twice, and Michael Olise was in fine form as France beat Sweden 3-0 at the World Cup to set up a last-16 clash with Paraguay.

Mbappe completed a superb performance to break the deadlock just before half-time on Tuesday in the last 32 match, watched by 80,663 at the New York Stadium in New Jersey, after France had already hit the woodwork twice, once through Mbappe and once through Olise.

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The French were on top against a young Sweden team, who were more dominant in possession and shots on goal.

Olise set up Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola for the second goal in the 53rd minute, then provided a delightful pass for Mbappe to complete the decisive victory.

Mbappe’s strike saw him move level with Lionel Messi on six goals in the Golden Boot race at this World Cup.

The France captain now has 18 World Cup goals, just one behind Messi’s record total of 19, a sign that Mbappe, 27, will continue his pursuit.

He celebrated his first goal by running to hug coach Didier Deschamps, who missed France’s final match against Norway to go home to his mother’s funeral.

Deschamps will step down at the end of the competition after 14 years of great success.

An exit in the last 32 would have been the best way to go for Deschamps, who led the first French team to win the World Cup in 1998 and coached them to victory in 2018.

In 1998, France’s victory on home soil included a 1-0 victory in the last-16 against Paraguay, with Laurent Blanc scoring the golden goal in extra time.

Les Bleus will meet the South Americans again in the last 16, on Saturday in Philadelphia.

France is expected to win and march.

Mbappe and Olise were also central figures, with Ousmane Dembele again showing his brilliance, while Barcola was chosen for Desire Doue as the fourth player.

Sweden have good attacking options, too, with Premier League trio Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Anthony Elanga. But they couldn’t get enough of the ball to create a chance, and Graham Potter’s side now head home.

Getting this far should be seen as a win for them, however, having just made it to North America through the back door of the playoffs.

In Tuesday’s game, Olise produced Mbappe in the middle to put the ball into the net in the 20th minute, only for a call to curtail the celebrations.

However, this created a lot of pressure on France, which led to the opening goal.

Their other ball was exciting, with Mbappe hitting the ball from Jules Kounde’s cross in the face, and Adrien Rabiot’s low shot.

Olise then hit a brilliant overhead kick, before Dembele fired again.

The opener arrived on the stroke of half-time, Olise’s effort followed by Swedish midfielder Jacob Widell Zetterstrom.

Dembele and Olise combined in the ensuing corner before finding Mbappe, and he did more.

Sweden needed time to recover, but conceded again eight minutes after the restart when the magical Olise slotted through the legs of Gustaf Lagerbielke to Barcola, who slotted home.

Olise was unable to score after finishing, but soon after, he provided a special assist for Mbappe to score again in the 74th minute.

France look unmoved, despite the most difficult tests to come, although Paraguay will find it difficult to contain them.