Kylian Mbappé led France to a commanding 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday at MetLife Stadium, maintaining the team's flawless record in the 2026 World Cup and advancing to the Round of 16. The win brings France closer to a potential final match on July 19 at the Meadowlands.

Mbappé opened the scoring just before halftime and added a second goal in the 74th minute, marking his sixth goal of the tournament and matching Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. The 27-year-old forward also surpassed 18 World Cup goals, taking sole possession of second place in the all-time scoring list, trailing Messi by a single goal despite an age gap of more than 11 years.

France now awaits its next opponent, Paraguay, whom they will face Saturday in Philadelphia. This matchup replaces a potential Round of 16 clash against Germany, offering France a more favorable path to the final. Should they advance, the quarterfinal could pit them against either Morocco or Canada.

The French side extended its tournament-best goal difference to plus-11, having won all three group stage matches for the first time since their 1998 World Cup triumph. France is the first team in 24 years to score at least three goals in each group stage game, beginning with a 3-1 victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium, which also featured two goals from Mbappé.

The match against Sweden began with some frustration for Mbappé, who was flagged offside on a breakaway in the 20th minute and hit the post in the 31st. However, he redeemed himself shortly before halftime with a skillful stepover move, maneuvering past defenders to finish a precise shot into the net. His goal sparked celebrations, including a moment of recognition toward head coach Didier Deschamps.

Deschamps, who missed France’s previous match due to the recent passing of his mother, was visibly embraced by Mbappé and several teammates following the goal. The 57-year-old coach, who captained France’s 1998 World Cup-winning team and has managed the national squad since 2012, has announced plans to step down after this tournament. A victory would make him the first coach since Vittorio Pozzo in the 1930s to win multiple World Cups.

Midfielder Adrien Rabiot commented on Deschamps’s emotional state, noting that the coach returned with a strong determination to advance deep into the competition. “Didier came back with the willpower to go as far as possible in this World Cup,” Rabiot said. “He smiled a lot and tried to be enthusiastic, although he’s very affected by his grief. I think he’s trying not to show it or transmit any negativity to the squad.”