France advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dominant 3-0 victory over Sweden on Wednesday, July 1, at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The win not only secured their place in the quarter-finals but also etched two unique records in the history of the tournament.
Mbappe Brace Leads France to Victory
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe scored twice, while Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola added a third goal as Les Bleus comfortably dispatched Sweden. France have now won all four of their matches in the tournament, having previously defeated Senegal, Iraq, and Norway in the group stage. They will next face Paraguay, who stunned four-time champions Germany in the Round of 32 via a penalty shootout, according to Yahoo Sports.
France Set New World Cup Record
With the victory, France became the first team in FIFA World Cup history to record seven consecutive wins against UEFA opponents. This achievement could extend further if Didier Deschamps' side continues their march toward the final on July 19, with more European opponents potentially awaiting them.
Additionally, Les Bleus have won four consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since their triumphant 1998 campaign on home soil, when they lifted the trophy for the first time after defeating Brazil in the final. The victory also marked France's first-ever win over Sweden at a major international tournament, having previously drawn 1-1 with Sweden at UEFA Euro 1992 and lost 2-0 at Euro 2012.
Deschamps Reacts to Win
France manager Didier Deschamps insisted that his team remains a contender to win the 2026 World Cup but stressed the need for improvement. According to the BBC, Deschamps said: "There is always room for improvement and things shouldn't be all gold. We have reached the round of 16. Let's appreciate that. We know what is expected of us. We could have been a bit more efficient in the first half. We have reached the round of 16, but it's only the round of 16. We have to stay calm."
Mbappe Matches Ronaldo's Record
Earlier in the tournament, Kylian Mbappe equalled Ronaldo Nazario's record of scoring 15 goals across three FIFA World Cup tournaments. The Brazilian icon scored 15 goals at the 1998, 2002, and 2006 World Cups, and Mbappe matched that tally with his first goal against Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
