The French national team confidently overcame the Round of 16 barrier of the 2026 World Cup, inflicting a crushing defeat on the Swedish team with a score of 3:0. The match, held in a tense atmosphere, turned into a triumphant show for the French star Kylian Mbappé, who not only scored a brace but also entered the history of world football.
Dominance and the First Goal
The French took control of the game from the first minutes, however, the goal of the Swedish goalkeeper Viktor Zetterström remained impenetrable. Mbappé hit the post twice, and Michael Olise almost scored an incredible goal with a volley behind his back, but the goal frame again saved the Scandinavians. The score was opened only towards the end of the first half. In the 45th minute, after a corner kick, the ball bounced to Mbappé, who powerfully sent it under the right post — 1:0.
Total Slaughter in the Second Half
The second half became decisive for determining the winner. Already in the 53rd minute, Michael Olise found Bradley Barcola in the penalty area with a delicate pass, who skillfully curled the ball into the left "nine" — 2:0. Mbappé himself put the final touch to the match in the 74th minute: receiving a through pass from Olise, the forward instantly oriented himself and shot accurately into the corner from close range, completing his brace. For Olise, this assist became the fifth in the tournament.
New Absolute Record
Thanks to this brace, Kylian Mbappé set an absolute World Cup record for the number of goals in knockout matches. The French forward brought his tally to 9 goals in 9 elimination games, overtaking the legendary Brazilians Leônidas and Ronaldo, who had 8 goals each. Mbappé has consistently scored in the knockout rounds at three consecutive World Cups: WC-2018, WC-2022, and the current WC-2026.
Knockout Bracket and Sensations
The victory sent the French team to the Round of 16, where the main favorite of the tournament will play against the Paraguay national team, which yesterday sensationally knocked out Germany in a penalty shootout. At the same time, other intriguing pairs were formed: the Norwegian national team, thanks to Erling Haaland's centenary goal in the final minutes, snatched victory from Ivory Coast (2:1) and will now face Brazil. It was also learned that Canada and Morocco will play in another duel.
This match day at the WC-2026 turned out to be rich in sensations. After Germany's fiasco at the hands of Paraguay, the legendary German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer announced his final retirement from the national team.
