New york: France secured a decisive 3-0 victory over Sweden in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup, moving on to face Paraguay in the Round of 16. Kylian Mbapp©'s stellar performance, scoring two goals, brought him level with Lionel Messi as the tournament's joint top scorer with six goals.
According to Thai News Agency, the match took place at the New York New Jersey Stadium, where France, the two-time world champions, displayed dominance. Mbapp©'s first goal came just before halftime in the 45th minute, as he skillfully maneuvered past a defender to score. The second goal for France was orchestrated by Michael Olise, who assisted Bradley Bargola in the 53rd minute. Mbapp© sealed France's triumph in the 74th minute, securing his second goal and marking a personal milestone with 18 goals in World Cup finals, just one shy of Messi's record.
Post-match, French coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged the team's cautious start but praised the overall performance. He emphasized the importance of maintaining confidence as France proceeds to meet Paraguay in Philadelphia.
In another thrilling encounter at Dallas Stadium, Norway edged past Ivory Coast with a 2-1 victory. Antonio Nusa initially put Norway ahead, but Ivory Coast's Ahmad Diallo equalized. Erling Haaland's late goal in the 86th minute ensured Norway's progression to the next round, where they will face Brazil.
Norwegian fans celebrated outside Dallas Stadium, reveling in their team's advancement. Meanwhile, fans in Oslo joined the festivities with the Viking boat dance, marking Norway's achievement of reaching the Round of 16 for the third time.
In Mexico City, a match between co-hosts Mexico and Ecuador experienced a delay due to inclement weather. Once underway, Mexico claimed a 2-0 victory, with goals from Juli¡n Guillones and Raºl Jim©nez. Mexico will now await the outcome of the England vs. DR Congo match to determine their next opponent on July 6th.