France vs Sweden - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

France volition statesman their World Cup knockout way connected Tuesday, erstwhile they instrumentality connected Sweden successful the circular of 32 at New York New Jersey Stadium.

After ending apical of Group I with maximum points, Les Bleus are expected to beforehand heavy into this summer's tournament, whereas Sweden's progression into the knockouts was lone secured acknowledgment to the federation finishing arsenic 1 of the 8 champion third-ranked teams.

Match preview

France swept speech their absorption successful Group I, with Senegal, Iraq and Norway incapable to genuinely test Didier Deschamps's side.

Norway did remainder galore starters erstwhile they clashed connected Friday, but Les Bleus' 4-1 victory cemented a cleanable radical run during which they scored 10 goals and conceded conscionable twice.

Ousmane Dembele's hat-trick successful that crippled proved that the French person threats beyond talisman Kylian Mbappe, and it is the strength of their depth that has made them 1 of the favourites to triumph the competition.

There is immoderate interest amongst France supporters that the squad tin beryllium somewhat passive without the ball, but it is hard to spot immoderate hostile keeping a cleanable expanse against them.

It is possibly fitting that Les Bleus are playing their archetypal knockout crippled astatine the stadium designated arsenic the venue for the final, particularly arsenic they person finished the past 2 World Cups arsenic winners and runners-up.

However, France's way to the last is apt to beryllium fraught with challenges fixed feasible opponents successful the knockouts see Germany successful the circular of 16, Netherlands oregon Morocco successful the quarter-final and Spain successful the semi-final.

Deschamps has already confirmed that helium intends to measurement down aft the extremity of the tournament, and it remains to beryllium seen whether helium tin pb his broadside to different triumph, though second-ranked France volition astatine slightest beryllium seen arsenic favourites against the 36th-ranked Swedes, as shown successful our World Cup 2026 betting guide.

Sweden were not convincing successful their group, finishing 3rd with 4 points aft beating Tunisia, losing 5-1 to the Netherlands and drawing 1-1 with Japan connected Friday.

Graham Potter's broadside ended their archetypal 3 matches astatine the tourney with a grounds of 7 goals scored and 7 conceded, but they were arguably fortunate to lone concede erstwhile against Japan.

Perhaps fans should not beryllium amazed by Blagult's mixed displays truthful acold considering they failed to triumph immoderate of their qualifying fixtures for the World Cup, with those inconsistencies inactive plaguing the squad.

A circular of 32 departure would beryllium Sweden's earliest elimination from the contention since they exited the radical stages of the 1990 edition, though reaching the knockouts should inactive beryllium seen arsenic an accomplishment itself fixed the state failed to scope the finals of 3 of 4 the World Cups anterior to this summer.

The Swedes indispensable debar a 5th decision successful six against France, though it should beryllium noted that 3 of their past 4 losses against Les Bleus were by a one-goal margin.

France World Cup form:

France signifier (all competitions):

Sweden World Cup form:

Sweden signifier (all competitions):

Team News

France centre-back William Saliba was rested against Norway, with the Arsenal defender reportedly struggling with a backmost issue, but helium volition privation to play done the symptom and assistance his broadside beforehand into the circular of 16.

Dayot Upamecano is acceptable to clasp his spot successful cardinal defence, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot are definite to look successful a treble pivot, particularly arsenic the duo are powerfully favoured by Deschamps.

Mbappe volition anticipation to people his 5th extremity of the tournament, and the Real Madrid prima volition beryllium supported by a trio of Michael Olise, Dembele and Desire Doue.

Sweden's Anthony Elanga scored from scope against Japan, and portion helium whitethorn find it hard to replicate specified a strike, his immense gait could inactive beryllium a invaluable plus connected Tuesday against France's defence.

Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres volition besides beryllium stationed successful the guardant line, though Victor Lindelof whitethorn person to beryllium moved from midfield into defence owed to Isak Hien's injury.

Lucas Bergvall was brought connected successful spot of Hien past clip out, taking Lindelof's spot successful the mediate of the pitch, and the Tottenham Hotspur prima volition apt enactment up adjacent to Yasin Ayari.

France imaginable starting lineup:

Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Doue; Mbappe

Sweden imaginable starting lineup:

Zetterstrom; Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Gudmundsson; Bernhardsson, Bergvall, Ayari, Stroud; Elanga, Gyokeres, Isak

We say: France 3-1 Sweden

France travel into the clash arsenic favourites, and with their firepower up front, it is casual to spot wherefore galore envisage a comfy win.

Sweden person stars that are susceptible of hurting their opponents' defence, but it is hard to representation their ain backline being resilient capable to springiness themselves a accidental of victory.

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