Mbappé scores twice, breaks a record and France thrash Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32

No scares this time. At MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, France stepped on, dominated from first minute to last, and beat Sweden 3-0. Mbappé scored twice, reached 18 goals at World Cups and became the all-time top scorer in the knockout stages of the tournament. Les Bleus are still hunting a third title.

On the other side, Sweden returned to a World Cup after eight years with a fearsome attack — Gyökeres and Isak — but ran into the tournament's biggest force at the worst possible moment and fell in their very first knockout.

The first ever World Cup meeting

France and Sweden had faced each other 24 times in football history but never at a World Cup. The game in New Jersey was their inaugural duel at the world tournament, despite the accumulated European rivalry in qualifiers and Nations League.

In the overall head-to-head, France lead comfortably: 13 wins (including today's) to Sweden's 6. In the last five meetings between the two, France won four. Worth remembering the two most recent games before this World Cup: Sweden's 2-1 win in 2018 qualifying (with Toivonen's goal at 93') and France's 4-2 in the 2020 Nations League.

France in the knockouts: consistent giants

France are one of the most dominant sides of the last few decades. Two titles, two runners-up finishes and a constant presence in the decisive stages. Since 1998, they have played in four finals across seven tournaments — a consistency very few countries can match.

Sweden in the knockouts: peaked in 1958, nostalgia since

Sweden have a rich history in world football. The 1958 home runners-up finish remains their peak. In 1994, third place, and in 2018 the Swedes returned to the quarterfinals after years. In 2026, they came back after eight years out and fell in their very first knockout.

How the match unfolded

France ran the show from first minute to last. 61% possession, 25 shots to Sweden's 7 and an xG of 2.41 — almost six times higher than the opposition. At no point did the French look in danger.

At 44 in the first half, the opener came. Dembélé took a short corner to Olise, who rolled it back to Mbappé inside the box. The number 10 shook off his marker and finished with precision. Before the break, 1-0.

At 6 in the second half, Olise found Barcola between the center-backs with acres of space inside the box. The PSG forward finished with no difficulty and extended the lead. And at 29, Mbappé closed the account: got it from Olise again and slotted it into the corner — his 18th World Cup goal, a knockout scoring record for the tournament.

The Gyökeres-Isak duo, one of the most anticipated pairings at the tournament, barely got the ball in shooting position. The French defensive block, led by Saliba, was impeccable. France's biggest World Cup knockout win since the 3-0 over Brazil in the 1998 final.

Match facts

• 44' — Kylian Mbappé (FRA), inside the box after a short-corner routine with Olise
• 51' — Bradley Barcola (FRA), inside the box after an Olise pass
• 74' — Kylian Mbappé (FRA), into the corner after Olise assist — 18th World Cup goal

France's standouts

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, 27). With today's brace, he reached 18 goals at World Cups and became the all-time top scorer in the tournament's knockouts. La Liga top scorer two years running and France's all-time top scorer. Untouchable.

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG, 28). After years of ups and downs with injuries, he had the best season of his career in 2024/25, winning the Champions League, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France with PSG. He took the corner that led to the first goal.

Michael Olise (Bayern Munich, 24). Two assists — one for Mbappé, one for Barcola. Creative, technical and with vision well beyond his age, he is the connector between France's midfield and attack.

Sweden's standouts

Viktor Gyökeres (Arsenal, 28). After his move from Sporting to Arsenal, he confirmed his instinct works at the highest level. Physical, powerful in both feet and great with his back to goal. Today he was well marked.

Alexander Isak (Liverpool, 27). Modern center-forward — technical, quick and creative in tight spaces. The pair with Gyökeres is one of the most lethal at the tournament, but today they didn't find a gap in the French block.

Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham, 20). A Tottenham starter at just 20, he is the future of Sweden's midfield. Smart, good at reading the game and quality in distribution.

Market value: a chasm

Mbappé alone is worth €180M on Transfermarkt. France's squad totals over €1.5 billion, the most expensive at the tournament, with five players worth more than €100M each. On the other side, Gyökeres leads Sweden at €70M and the entire squad totals €406M — one of the strongest groups Sweden have ever brought to a World Cup, but still miles behind France.

Next opponent: Paraguay

In the round of 16, France face Paraguay in Philadelphia on July 4. Paraguay come from a 1-1 draw with Germany in the round of 32 and arrive high from a penalty shootout. Mbappé will be chasing his 19th World Cup goal against a defense that has already shown it knows how to hold giants. Follow it all here at Guriball.