France cruised into the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Sweden on Tuesday, inspired by a Michael Olise masterclass. At his dazzling best in New Jersey, the Bayern Munich sensation was involved in absolutely everything as a Kylian Mbappe brace and Bradley Barcola strike ensured Les Bleus progressed from the round of 32 at a canter.
France manager Didier Deschamps has insisted he is not concerned by William Saliba's ongoing back injury ahead of their World Cup round of 32 clash against Sweden. The Arsenal defender admitted he is not playing at 100 per cent and has been forced to skip training sessions to manage the issue, but Deschamps believes the centre-back remains fully prepared to anchor Les Bleus' defence in New York.
Comprehensive match preview of France vs Sweden at the World Cup 2026. We talk tactics, team news, and more ahead of this Round of 32 clash in East Rutherford.
Alexander Isak remains a “magical player”, former Sweden international Stefan Schwarz has told GOAL, with the Liverpool striker being told what he needs in order to prove as much at Anfield. With a record-breaking price tag hanging around his neck, the former Newcastle frontman endured an injury-ravaged debut campaign on Merseyside that delivered just four goals.
Arsenal striker Viktor Gyokeres has broken his silence regarding his future at the club following reports that the club could use him as a makeweight to sign Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez. The Sweden international enjoyed a title-winning debut season in north London but now finds his place under scrutiny as Mikel Arteta looks to evolve his attacking options.
Sweden manager Graham Potter has revealed his excitement ahead of a dream World Cup round-of-32 encounter against heavyweights France in New Jersey. The former Chelsea coach acknowledged the immense challenge of facing a star-studded Bleus squad but insists his side are looking forward to orchestrating a massive tournament shock.
Sweden have secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup for the eighth time in their history following a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Japan. However, goalscorer Anthony Elanga has made the surprising admission that he was completely unaware a point was sufficient to see the Blue and Yellow through to the round of 32.
Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries firmly believes the Oranje have enough quality to win the 2026 World Cup following their dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden. The 30-year-old right-back insisted that confidence and energy are growing within Ronald Koeman's squad as they eye an unforgettable tournament run.
Cody Gakpo inspired the Netherlands to a statement 5-1 victory over Sweden, leaving Liverpool fans wondering why they don't see this version of the winger more often. The 27-year-old was the architect of a Dutch masterclass in Houston, proving once again that he is a completely different beast when wearing the famous Oranje shirt.
Netherlands secured a spectacular 5-1 victory over Sweden in their second World Cup group-stage match on Saturday night, but the triumph was clouded by significant fitness scares for Virgil van Dijk. Liverpool's captain revealed a frightening moment during the clash where he temporarily lost feeling in his upper leg following a heavy blow to the hip.
Ronald Koeman has offered a mixed review of his Netherlands side following their dominant 5-1 victory over Sweden at the World Cup. While the Oranje boss was delighted with the impact of Brian Brobbey, he insisted there are still significant areas for improvement within the team.
Denzel Dumfries has called for a significant shift in the Netherlands' team culture, urging his international team-mates to adopt a more confrontational approach. The wing-back believes the squad must learn from the high-pressure environment of the Inter dressing room to ensure success on the world stage.
Former Netherlands international Rafael van der Vaart has issued a formal apology following a wave of backlash over offensive comments made during the 2026 World Cup. The ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid midfielder was working as a pundit for a Dutch broadcaster when he made a controversial remark regarding the appearance of Japan’s players after their 2-2 draw with the Oranje.
Tunisia have sensationally sacked head coach Sabri Lamouchi just one game into their 2026 World Cup campaign. The decision comes in the wake of a devastating 5-1 defeat at the hands of Sweden in their Group F opener on Sunday.
Graham Potter’s World Cup debut as Sweden manager was a dream on the pitch but the former Chelsea boss was left nursing a bloodied ear following a dominant 5-1 victory over Tunisia. While his side moved to the top of Group F with a ruthless attacking display, Potter sustained a mystery injury during the post-match celebrations.
Sweden made a devastating statement of intent at the 2026 World Cup as they dismantled Tunisia 5-1 to move to the top of Group F. Spearheaded by the clinical duo of Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, who both got their names on the scoresheet, the Scandinavians proved far too powerful for their African opponents in Monterrey.
Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has told GOAL why he is “a little bit worried” about Alexander Isak, with the £125 million ($167m) striker under pressure to deliver during his second season at Anfield. The most expensive player in British football has been warned that his price tag will count for nothing if he offers little return on that record-shattering investment.
There's just a few hours to go until the biggest show on earth gets underway, with the 2026 World Cup kicking off in Mexico City on Thursday. If you haven't already caught a serious case of World Cup fever, what better way to get in the mood than by checking out the very best kits that will be on show in North America this summer.
The 2026 World Cup is almost upon us. Over the course of the next week, the time for talking will stop, and teams will have to prove their credentials with their performances on the pitch in North America. All roads, whether through the United States, Mexico or Canada, will lead to New Jersey on July 19, and the biggest football match on the planet: the World Cup final.
FIFA has announced a significant protocol modification that will see every squad member take part in the pre-match national anthems at the upcoming World Cup. Moving away from traditional sporting custom, football's global governing body has mandated that both starting line-ups and substitutes congregate together on the pitch ahead of kick-off.
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