World Cup 2026: France vs Sweden Tips, Prediction & Odds

* Prices from Betway, accurate when this was written.

France meet Sweden at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Tuesday night, with this 2026 World Cup Round of 32 game kicking off at 23:00 CAT. Didier Deschamps' team won every one of their three Group I matches and go in as big favourites, while Sweden only just made the last 32 as one of the top third placed sides. There is a big difference in quality between the two teams. You can find every World Cup betting tips we have in our dedicated section.

France

No team was more clinical than France in the group stage, as they won all three matches and finished off with a 4-1 win against Norway in which Ousmane Dembele hit a first half hat-trick. As I see it, Deschamps is strong in every position, and being able to rest players in the last group game and still win easily shows just how deep the squad is. Kylian Mbappe leads the attack with Dembele and Michael Olise behind him, and William Saliba should be back in defence after being rested as a precaution. The way I see it, France will be far too strong for a weakened Sweden.

Expected Lineup: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.

Sweden

Sweden stumbled into the knockouts in third place in Group F, as their bright start, a 5-1 win over Tunisia, nearly counted for nothing after the Netherlands hammered them 5-1 and they then drew 1-1 with Japan. In my view Graham Potter's team are a threat going forward with Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres up top, but they have been badly exposed by the stronger sides. Losing Isak Hien, who will miss the rest of the tournament with a hamstring injury, is a big hit to a defence that was already shaky. As I see it, Sweden will find it hard to hold the French attack for ninety minutes.

Expected Lineup: Zetterstrom; Lindelof, Starfelt, Lagerbielke; Gudmundsson, Ayari, Stroud, Bernhardsson;  Elanga; Gyokeres, Isak.

France have the quality, the depth and the form to win this one easily, and with Sweden missing Hien in defence I think Mbappe and Dembele will cause trouble all evening. Sweden will have the odd moment through Isak and Gyokeres, but I cannot see them keeping France out for very long. I am expecting a comfortable French win without conceding. My forecast: France 3 Sweden 0.

BTTS: No (1.78)

I am going with both teams not to score, because I believe France have the defensive quality to keep Sweden out. The French let in only two goals in the group stage, and with Saliba back next to Upamecano I expect them to stay in control. Sweden made very little against the stronger teams they played and I doubt they will find a way through here, even with their gifted strike pair.