Kylian Mbappé netted two goals to tie Lionel Messi for the most goals in the World Cup with six, as France defeated Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32 on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Match highlights
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a clinical finish from inside the box. He added his second in the 67th minute, capitalizing on a swift counterattack. France's third goal came from Antoine Griezmann in the 81st minute, sealing a dominant performance.
The victory advances France to the round of 16, where they will face the winner of the match between Argentina and Japan. Sweden, who finished third in Group H, exits the tournament after a hard-fought campaign.
Mbappé joins elite company
With six goals, Mbappé now shares the tournament lead with Messi, who scored twice in Argentina's 4-1 win over Nigeria earlier on Tuesday. Both players are vying for the Golden Boot, awarded to the top scorer in the World Cup.
Mbappé's performance continues his remarkable World Cup career. At 27, he has scored 16 goals across three tournaments, including eight in 2022 when France reached the final. “Kylian is a generational talent,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. “His ability to decide matches is extraordinary.”
France's tactical dominance
France controlled possession with 62% and outshot Sweden 15-4. Sweden's best chance came in the 55th minute when Alexander Isak hit the post. French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made two saves to preserve the clean sheet.
Sweden coach Janne Andersson acknowledged France's superiority: “They were the better team tonight. Mbappé is impossible to contain when he's in this form.”
Looking ahead
France will play their round of 16 match on July 5. With Mbappé leading the attack, they are considered strong contenders to win their third World Cup title. The team has not lost a match in the tournament since the 2022 final against Argentina.
