Kylian Mbappé at the double as France defeat Sweden

Kylian Mbappé scored twice as France claimed a dominant victory over Sweden in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup on June 30, 2026, at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. France demonstrated their attacking prowess, with Mbappé's performance drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi in the race for the tournament's golden boot.

The match began with an intriguing contest but quickly turned in France's favor. After a few initial attempts, including a powerful drive from Adrian Rabiot that was saved, Mbappé opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a precise shot from the right side of the box, catching the Swedish defense off-guard. The French players celebrated the goal with enthusiasm, signaling their strong team bond, especially poignant following coach Didier Deschamps’ recent personal loss.

France doubled their lead shortly after the halftime mark. Following a Swedish mistake that gave France possession, Michael Olise delivered a stunning pass to Bradley Barcola, who converted it with a powerful shot into the roof of the net. Olise continued to shine throughout the match, providing another assist to Mbappé, who scored his second goal in the 75th minute, again demonstrating the beautiful play that characterized France’s performance.

Following the match, Deschamps praised his team's commitment and talent, noting that while they enjoy their time on the pitch, they must remain focused as they prepare for tougher opposition in the later stages of the tournament. Sweden's head coach Graham Potter acknowledged the difficulties posed by France, remarking on their ability to utilize the width of the pitch to their advantage.

With dominant possession of 61%, France recorded 12 shots on target against Sweden's 5, further emphasizing their superiority in this matchup. As the tournament progresses, France's strong showing leaves them well-positioned as they aim to secure their status as tournament favorites.