France vs. Sweden Match Preview: Knockout Clash in New Jersey | OneFootball

The 2026 World Cup has entered the decisive stage. France is one of the candidates for glory. They showed enviable firepower in the group stage, earning the maximum nine points and scoring a joint high ten goals (conceding two). They are looking to consolidate their excellent form heading into the knockout rounds.

France should play more cautiously against Sweden. They know that, with space, Sweden can cause damage and that they have two of the most lethal strikers in Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak who can give them more than a headache.

Below is all the key information you need to know before the France vs. Sweden game. Let’s get into it.

France vs. Sweden

Kickoff: 5:00 pm ET/2:00 pm PTMetLife Stadium, East RutherfordWatch on FOX, Telemundo and fuboTV

The team managed by Didier Deschamps comes into this Round of 32 having dominated Group I: beating Senegal 3-1 in their debut, Iraq 3-0 on the second matchday, and Norway 4-1 on the final matchday.

Now, Les Bleus will seek to get past the first knockout round hand-to-hand against the tough Swedish team, which advanced from a group stage full of surprises. Despite being the 3rd place side from Group F, they are a team to be feared, and France cannot afford to be overconfident.

For their part, the Swedes struggled to qualify for this round. They started in great form by thrashing Tunisia 5-1, but then fell by the same scoreline against the Netherlands. On the final matchday, they were looking to secure a better position, but the 1-1 draw against Japan placed them in this tie.

They want to improve and will look to do so for this match, although the margin is really narrow: they will face France, which has been a finalist in the last two World Cups and wants to embroider the third star on its crest.

France: Team News & Predicted Lineups

Marcus Thuram, the Inter Milan striker, is in doubt due to calf discomfort. At best he could start on the bench. While this appears to reduces Deschamps’ rotation options in attack, let’s be real. Didier was never going to start him.

Why would he? The coach has a plethora of top-level options at his disposal. There’s Ousmane Dembélé, Ballon d’Or winner and author of a first alf hat-trick against Norway. And Kylian Mbappé, also with a hat-trick to his name. Let’s not forget Michael Olise, Désiré Doué and Bradley Barcola. All have made decisive contributions in the group stage.

The double pivot formed by Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouameni and Roma’s Manu Koné provides the necessary balance between possession and defensive coverage, a fundamental aspect for managing the quick transitions that Sweden will try to exploit.

The defense is shaping up with William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano as the center-back pairing, Theo Hernández and Jules Koundé at full-back, and Mike Maignan in goal.

France predicted XI vs. Sweden: Maignan; Hernández, Lacroix, Upamecano, Koundé; Koné, Tchouaméni; Doué, Olise, Dembélé; Mbappé.

Sweden: Team News & Predicted Lineups

Sweden faces the match weakened by the absence of Isak Hien, the Atalanta defender who suffered a left leg hamstring injury during the draw with Japan and was ruled out for the remainder of the World Cup.

Captain Victor Lindelöf, of Aston Villa, is available and will lead the three-man central defense alongside Gustaf Lagerbielke and Gabriel Gudmundsson.

In goal, manager Graham Potter will likely go with Kristoffer Nordfeldt starting instead of Jacob Widell Zetterström. The Derby Country keeper played against Japan and did well, but Nordfeldt’s 21 previous caps make his the more experienced choice.

The attacking trident formed by Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyökeres and Anthony Elanga remains Sweden’s main weapon. Elanga scoring two goals in the group stage and Isak providing three assists, a figure he shares at the top of the tournament with Michael Olise.

Sweden predicted XI vs. Sweden: Nordfeldt; Gudmundsson, Hien, Lagerbielke; Stroud, Ayari, Lindelöf, Bernhardsson; Isak, Gyökeres, Elanga.

Match prediction: France 3-2 Sweden