France reinforced its status as one of the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32. A brace from Kylian Mbappé and a goal from Bradley Barcola secured Didier Deschamps' side a place in the Round of 16, where they will face surprise package Paraguay.

Played before more than 80,000 fans at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the match remained evenly contested until the closing moments of the first half. France finally broke the deadlock in the 45th minute when Kylian Mbappé found the back of the net after sustained attacking pressure.

The French side took complete control after the break. In the 53rd minute, Bradley Barcola doubled the lead following a well-crafted assist from Michael Olise, who also played a key role in France's third goal.

Mbappé struck again in the 74th minute to complete the 3-0 victory and bring his tournament tally to six goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French captain now draws level with Lionel Messi among the tournament's leading scorers and moves to within one goal of the Argentine legend on the FIFA World Cup's all-time scoring list.

France dominated possession and controlled the tempo throughout the match, allowing Sweden very few opportunities to threaten goalkeeper Mike Maignan. The convincing performance further strengthened France's credentials as a serious title contender.

The victory sends Les Bleus into the Round of 16, where they will take on Paraguay, one of the biggest surprises of the tournament after eliminating Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout.

The highly anticipated Round of 16 clash between France and Paraguay will take place on July 4 in Philadelphia, with a place in the quarterfinals at stake.