World Cup 2026: Mbappé double sends France into last 16, Mexico and Norway also advance

France sink Sweden with Mbappé masterclass

France delivered an attacking masterclass at MetLife Stadium, where Kylian Mbappé's double fired them to a 3-0 victory over Sweden and a place in the last 16. The French captain broke the deadlock just before half-time after shots from Adrien Rabiot and Ousmane Dembélé narrowly missed, and an acrobatic Michael Olise effort rattled the crossbar. Bradley Barcola doubled the lead in the 52nd minute, and Mbappé sealed the win in the 74th with an assist from Olise, who now has five in the tournament.

The match carried emotional weight for the squad after the death of manager Didier Deschamps' mother. Mbappé and his teammates celebrated the opener by rushing to embrace Deschamps on the touchline.

“The whole team was there with him. It's the DNA of this group, to be all together, united, all behind the coach. We wanted him to feel he wasn't alone.”

With 18 World Cup goals in as many appearances, Mbappé now sits just one behind Lionel Messi's ongoing record and has joined the Argentine on six goals in this edition. France advances to face Paraguay on Saturday in Philadelphia, a rematch of the 1998 round of 16 when a Laurent Blanc extra-time winner paved the way to the title.

Mexico stay perfect in the Azteca storm

In a match delayed by an hour due to thunderous storms, Mexico continued an immaculate World Cup run with a 2-0 win over Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca. Julian Quiñones opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a stunning solo goal, and Raúl Jiménez doubled the advantage in the 31st, both strikes finding opposite corners.

Ecuador rarely threatened aside from a John Yeboah effort that clipped the post early on, and their night was compounded by a late red card for Piero Hincapié for covering his mouth while speaking. Mexico have now won four straight matches without conceding a goal and remain unbeaten in ten World Cup games at the Azteca across 1970, 1986 and 2026. They will face either England or the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 16, again in Mexico City.

Norway edge Ivorians to set up Brazil showdown

Erling Haaland scored the decisive goal as Norway defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 to advance. The result sets up a high-profile last-16 clash with Brazil.

Paraguay stun Germany elsewhere

In another round of 32 shock, Paraguay eliminated Germany to become France's next opponent, resurrecting memories of the 1998 thriller between the two nations.