Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France swept past Sweden 3-0 in the World Cup round of 32, a performance that had pundits calling them one of the most dominant tournament favourites in memory. France are now through to the last 16, where they face Paraguay in Philadelphia on 4 July, and the question on everyone’s lips is: can anyone stop them?
The basics: France won their group and beat Sweden in the knockout stage, with Mbappe taking his goal tally to six – level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. Bradley Barcola also scored, while Michael Olise provided two more assists, taking his tournament total to five. France became the first team to score three or more goals in five consecutive World Cup matches. Manager Didier Deschamps, who had briefly left the squad to attend his mother’s funeral, returned for the Sweden game and praised his team’s unity.
“Why France are the team to beat at the 2026 World Cup.”
Background: Four years after losing the 2022 final to Argentina on penalties, Les Bleus have regrouped with a blend of youthful energy and experienced stars. Deschamps said the team’s mindset “doesn’t win matches on its own, but it can make you lose them” – a nod to the togetherness that has characterised this campaign. Midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni added that the players were trying to make their coach “as happy as possible” after his personal loss. The squad is led by Mbappe, arguably the world’s best player, and supported by a deep bench including Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki.
Why it matters for UK readers: England fans will be watching France closely – the two sides could meet in later rounds, and France’s form suggests they would be a formidable obstacle. The team also features several players familiar to Premier League viewers, such as Olise (Crystal Palace) and Cherki (Manchester City), making their run a talking point for UK football audiences. Ian Wright, commentating for ITV, said: “You cannot stop this kind of ability. France are one of the most clear favourites I have ever seen in a World Cup tournament.”
Q: Why are France considered favourites to win the World Cup? They have a combination of world-class talent, unselfish teamwork, and record-breaking form. Kylian Mbappe is in blistering form, the team has scored three or more goals in five straight World Cup matches, and former World Cup winner Patrick Vieira said “they showed to everyone that they are the team to beat.”
Q: What was the incident between Rayan Cherki and Didier Deschamps? After the Sweden match, footage showed Cherki appearing to briefly ignore Deschamps as he walked past, then giving a brief greeting and stopping to pull up his socks while Deschamps tried to talk to him. It was a minor moment, and Deschamps subsequently praised the squad’s togetherness, saying “the collective strength is above everything.”
Q: Who are France’s key players at this tournament? Kylian Mbappe is the star, with six goals so far. Bradley Barcola has also scored, and Michael Olise has five assists. The squad includes Rayan Cherki, a Manchester City playmaker, and captain Didier Deschamps is the long-serving head coach who won the World Cup as a player in 1998.
What happens next: France face Paraguay in the last 16 on Saturday, 4 July (22:00 BST) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Deschamps warned that “we know what awaits us in four days. We’ll have to repeat this performance against an opponent with different qualities.” If they win, they will face either Argentina or Australia in the quarter-finals, keeping alive the possibility of a repeat of the 2022 final.