France vs. Sweden World Cup 2026 Lineups: Mbappe Leads Les Bleus

The stage is set for a compelling Round of 32 clash in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers as France prepares to take on Sweden. The match, scheduled for Wednesday, July 1st, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, is anticipated to be a hard-fought contest as both nations aim to advance.

France, under the guidance of coach Didier Deschamps, is set to deploy their favored 4-2-3-1 formation. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan will guard the net, protected by a backline of Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, and Lucas Digne. The midfield will be anchored by the defensive pairing of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot, with Michael Olise operating in a more advanced role to support the forward line. The electrifying pace of Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola is expected to trouble the Swedish defense, while Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe will lead the attack.

Sweden, managed by Graham Potter, will respond with a 3-4-2-1 formation. Jacob Widell Zetterstrom is slated to start in goal. The defensive trio will consist of Victor Lindelof, Gabriel Gudmundsson, and Gustaf Lagerbielke. The midfield will feature Elliot Stroud, Lucas Bergvall, Yasin Ayari, and Daniel Svensson. Creative midfielders Anthony Elanga and Alexander Isak will operate behind striker Viktor Gyokeres, who will spearhead Sweden's attack.

The match will be officiated by Dutch referee Danny Makkelie. Given that both teams are bringing their best available players to the field, the encounter is predicted to be intense and closely contested.