It’s Scandinavia on Scandinavia for France, whose first knock-out game at World Cup 2026 is against the adjoining neighbours of the last team they played in the group stage.
After demolishing Norway’s second string, France face Sweden in the round of 32. It’s one of three all-UEFA ties in the second round of the World Cup and it’s a meeting of serious firepower.
France have the better all-round team by far but if Sweden can get their sharpshooters in position, this might not be a foregone conclusion. If France can do the same for theirs, it will be.
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France vs Sweden betting odds from BOYLE Sports
- France WIN – 1/4
- Draw – 4/1
- Sweden WIN – 9/1
France vs Sweden prediction
The prize for the winners at New York New Jersey Stadium is a last-16 match against Paraguay, the gritty penalty shootout conquerors of Germany.
There might be one or two players on the pitch with a secondary focus on the Golden Boot race, too. Sweden manager Graham Potter has Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak at his disposal but it’s the French duo of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele who are really chasing Lionel Messi.
Both of Les Bleus’ in-form goal-getters have scored four times at this World Cup, two fewer than former Paris Saint-Germain man Messi. In all, France have scored 10 goals in three games.
If France’s progress has been serene, Sweden’s has been tumultuous. Their 5-1 opening win against Tunisia proved to be more about Tunisia, who immediately sacked Sabri Lamouchi. Sweden lost to the Netherlands by the same score.
A draw with Japan saw Potter’s team through in third place with four points but their results have been less than impressive – unsurprising, given the method by which they qualified in the first place – and they haven’t faced anybody of France’s quality.
Swedes of a certain vintage will have happy memories of World Cup matches in the United States but that won’t offer much cause for optimism.
There’s no sanctity in the history books either. France have won this fixture twice as many times as Sweden since these teams met for the first time in 1935.
Score prediction: France 3-1 Sweden
It’s difficult to see past Les Bleus. Didier Deschamps team are the very definition of ‘been there, done that’ no matter how you slice it. They know the level individually and collectively, and coming up against Sweden won’t knock that assuredness out of them.
Sweden have the weapons to do damage in this game and sure, stranger things happen in football all the time, but you’ll do well to convince us pre-game that this is going any other way.
How to watch France vs Sweden
You can watch France vs Sweden in the last 32 of World Cup 2026 for free. All the information you need is in our how to watch guide.
The match will be broadcast live on ITV in the UK, Fox in the United States and SBS in Australia.
What’s your France vs Sweden prediction? Let us know below…