France put on a masterclass at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Tuesday, dismantling Sweden 3-0 in baking New Jersey heat to advance to the round of 16 — and the manner of the victory left rivals fearing the worst.
Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a superbly crafted opener, then sprinted directly to the dugout to embrace head coach Didier Deschamps — who was making his first appearance on the touchline since travelling back to France to attend his mother's funeral. The rest of the squad joined them in a group embrace that captured the spirit driving this side.
"This group is united and they delivered when I was not here last week," said Deschamps after the final whistle. "The team spirit of this group doesn't make you win matches. But I know if it's the other way round, you can lose games. The collective strength is above everything."
Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni added: "We know the coach is going through a lot, we are trying to give everything to make him as happy as possible."
Mbappe closes in on Messi's all-time record
Bradley Barcola doubled the lead before Mbappe struck again — his second of the night moved him level on six tournament goals with Argentina's Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Mbappe now has 18 World Cup goals in total, just one behind Messi's all-time record for the competition.
France's captain has also scored two or more goals in seven different World Cup matches — three more than any other player in history.
"You cannot stop this kind of ability," former England striker Ian Wright told ITV Sport. "France are one of the most clear favourites I have ever seen in a World Cup tournament."
Wright's former Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, agreed: "They showed to everyone that they are the team to beat."
Olise's record-breaking assist tally
Michael Olise added two more assists to bring his tournament tally to five, making him the first player to record five or more assists at a single World Cup since 1994. He also struck the post with an outrageous acrobatic effort that drew gasps from the 80,000 inside the stadium.
Born in Hammersmith to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise began his footballing journey at Hayes & Yeading United at the age of six. Now 24, the former Crystal Palace winger is proving himself on the grandest stage of all.
"Michael is playing top-notch football," said Deschamps. "He is a major influence within the squad and is the link between the strikers and the defence. He is a bit of an introvert, but he is not an introvert on the pitch."
Ousmane Dembele, meanwhile, has six goal involvements across the tournament — four goals and two assists — while the Mbappe-Dembele combination alone has produced six goals, more than any other duo on record since 1966 in the competition.
France are now the first team to score three or more goals in five consecutive World Cup matches, having netted 12 times in four games on American soil.
"What we saw from France was precision and devastation," former England full-back Gary Neville told ITV Sport. "That front four — Mbappe, Dembele, Olise, and Barcola — will cause nightmares for every single defender in this tournament. They are a level above."
Even Sweden coach Graham Potter conceded: "It's no disgrace to go out to this France team. I haven't seen a better team."
'Please, slow down'
Should France beat Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday, 4 July, they will face the winners of the Canada vs Morocco tie in the quarter-finals at Boston Stadium on Thursday, 9 July.
Deschamps, however, was quick to urge caution when asked if his side could go all the way to the title. "Please, slow down," he said. "We have reached the round of 16. Let's appreciate that. We know what is expected of us. We have to stay calm."
