On paper, this one looks lopsided, and the bookies agree. France strolled through their group at the 2026 World Cup with a perfect record and look every bit the tournament favourites. Sweden, by contrast, limped into the knockouts as one of the last qualifiers, patched-up at the back and reliant on two world-class strikers to keep them alive. But it is a one-off, at the very stadium that will host the final, and Sweden have nothing to lose. Here is how to watch France vs Sweden, when it kicks off where you are, the likely lineups and our prediction.
Kickoff is 5:00 PM ET on Tuesday, June 30 / 10:00 PM in the UK at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the venue for the final. In the US it is on Fox. In Britain it is free on the BBC or ITV, with streaming on iPlayer and ITVX.
Where to Watch France vs Sweden
Free to air in the UK. In the US it is on Fox.
Quick tip: in the UK this is free on the BBC or ITV and their apps. Our guide to watching the World Cup in the UK has every channel and time. In the US it is on Fox, plus Fubo, Peacock and YouTube TV. Stick to the official broadcaster for the best, safest stream.
France vs Sweden TV Channel and Live Stream
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The Road to the Round of 32
France won Group I with a perfect nine points and 10 goals. Sweden had a far bumpier ride, finishing third in Group F and sneaking through as one of the eight best third-placed teams. Every final table is in our World Cup 2026 groups guide.
FranceSwedenThe winner advances to the Round of 16 to face the winner of Germany vs Paraguay. If level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
France’s Depth Against Sweden’s Strikers
France are flying. Didier Deschamps, who has already said he will step down after the tournament, has his side purring at the perfect moment: nine points from nine, 10 goals scored, only two conceded. The scary part for everyone else is the depth. Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have four goals apiece, and it was Dembele who stole the show last time out with a hat-trick against Norway, proving France are far from a one-man team. Mbappe was given a breather for that game and will be itching to add to his tally here.
Behind the fireworks, Deschamps keeps things solid. Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot screen the back four, freeing Michael Olise and Desire Doue to feed Mbappe. The one slight worry is at the back: William Saliba has been nursing a back problem and was rested against Norway, but he has trained and is expected to return. With Marcus Thuram a doubt, France will want their first-choice defence back together.
Sweden, in truth, have been a muddle. A thumping 5-1 win over Tunisia flattered them, because they were then taken apart 5-1 by the Netherlands and only scraped a 1-1 draw with Japan to limp through. Graham Potter’s side have not kept a clean sheet in nine games and are without the injured Isak Hien, which has forced Victor Lindelof back into defence. The good news for them, and it is a big one, is up front: Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak are a strike pair good enough to trouble anyone, with Anthony Elanga’s pace alongside them.
The maths is simple. If Sweden can turn this into a chaotic, end-to-end game, their forwards might just get the chances to spring a shock. But that plays right into France’s hands, because no team punishes space better. France’s class across the pitch should tell, and we expect them to win comfortably enough, though with Gyokeres and Isak in attack, a Sweden goal would not be a surprise. France to advance, in 90 minutes.
How They Might Line Up
France expect Saliba back from a back issue, with Thuram a doubt; otherwise Deschamps names his strongest side. Sweden are without the injured Isak Hien, with Lindelof dropping into defence behind the Gyokeres and Isak strike pair.
FRANCE · Deschamps · 4-2-3-1Maignan · Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T Hernandez · Tchouameni, Rabiot · Dembele, Olise, Doue · Mbappe
SWEDEN · Potter · 3-4-3Zetterstrom · Lagerbielke, Lindelof, Ekdal · Bernhardsson, Karlstrom, Ayari, Gudmundsson · Elanga, Gyokeres, Isak
Who Reaches the Last 16?
France to roll on, or can Sweden’s strikers pull off a shock? Sign up on Vatan in seconds and back your call on this knockout tie.
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A Word on MetLife Stadium
Home to the NFL’s New York Giants and Jets, MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford goes by New York New Jersey Stadium during the tournament. It is the biggest venue at this World Cup and will stage the final on July 19, so France will be keen to get familiar with it. They already beat Senegal here on Matchday 1. More on it at Wikipedia.
The sides have met 23 times, with France winning 12 and losing only two of the last 17. Their most recent meeting finished 4-2 to France. This, though, is the first time they have ever met at a World Cup.
France vs Sweden: Quick Answers
What time does France vs Sweden kick off?
5pm Eastern in the US, which is 4pm Central and 2pm on the West Coast. In the UK it is 10pm BST, and in Paris and Stockholm it is 11pm. The date is Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
What channel is France vs Sweden on in the US?
Fox has the broadcast in the United States. You can also stream it through Fubo, Peacock and YouTube TV.
Is France vs Sweden free to watch in the UK?
Yes. It is free to air on the BBC or ITV, with free streaming via BBC iPlayer and ITVX, though it is a 10pm kick-off.
What happens if it is a draw after 90 minutes?
This is a knockout tie, so a draw means 30 minutes of extra time and then a penalty shootout if the teams are still level. The winner reaches the Round of 16; the loser is out.
Who does the winner play next?
The winner of France vs Sweden advances to the Round of 16 to face the winner of Germany vs Paraguay, with that tie scheduled for July 4.
Why are France such big favourites?
France won all three group games, scoring 10 goals, and are among the favourites to win the tournament. Sweden scraped through in third and have not kept a clean sheet in nine matches, so the gap in quality is significant.
Who are the key players?
For France, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, who have four goals each, plus playmaker Michael Olise. For Sweden, the strike pair of Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak.
What is the prediction?
We expect a comfortable France win, around 3-1. France have far more quality across the pitch, though Sweden’s strikers are good enough to grab a goal along the way.
World Cup 2026 Guides
🏆 World Cup 2026 Final: Date, Venue, Time & How to Watch →
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🇺🇸 How to Watch the World Cup 2026 in the USA →
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