New York, June 30 -- A clinical double from talismanic captain Kylian Mbappe steered France to an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sweden at the New York New Jersey Stadium (MetLife Stadium), punching Les Bleus' ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

Didier Deschamps, returning to the touchline after missing the final group game due to personal bereavement (following his mother's funeral), watched his side systematically dismantle a stubborn Swedish defence.

While the creative genius of Michael Olise orchestrated the rhythm, it was Mbappe who stole the show, breaking historical records and drawing level with Lionel Messi at the summit of the tournament's goal-scoring charts.

Sweden entered the knockout tie with a disciplined, compact ...