FIFA World cup 2026- France , Norway , Mexico register sublime wins in round of 32

 

France , Norway & Mexico register impressive wins as the round of 32 cobtinues to dish out some fine football .

Match 1: France vs. Sweden

Final Score: France 3 – 0 Sweden 

Stadium: New York New Jersey Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)

France put on a flawless "Champagne" performance to utterly sweep Sweden aside under a blistering 32°C heat. From the opening whistle, the French flamboyant attack dictated the tempo, with Sweden looking entirely outpaced trying to match the precise passing of Les Bleus. Kylian Mbappé was the epicenter of the French offense, testing the Swedish goalkeeper early and even having a goal ruled out for offside in the 20th minute. Despite the sweltering conditions and intense pressure, Sweden managed to hold on for most of the first half until the French dam finally broke just before the interval. The second half continued in the same fashion, as France out-passed and out-ran a heavily wilted Swedish side to comfortably book their ticket to the Round of 16, where they will face Paraguay. 

45' | Kylian Mbappé (France 1 - 0): Right on the stroke of halftime, France finally capitalized on their dominance. Mbappé found a pocket of space and clinically slotted the ball home past Jacob Widell Zetterström, prompting a passionate team celebration on the touchline with manager Didier Deschamps. 

53' | Bradley Barcola (France 2 - 0): France maintained their relentless pressure into the second half. Just eight minutes after the restart, Bradley Barcola expertly recalibrated the French attack, elegantly lofting the ball over the Swedish goalkeeper to double the cushion. 

74' | Kylian Mbappé (France 3 - 0): Mbappé put the final nail in the coffin with his second goal of the match (and sixth of the tournament). He coolly finished another precise attacking sequence, sealing a 3-0 win and drawing himself level with Lionel Messi at 18 career World Cup goals. 

Match 2: Norway vs. Ivory Coast

Final Score: Norway 2 – 1 Ivory Coast 

Stadium: Dallas Stadium (Arlington, Texas) 

Norway weathered an incredibly tempestuous and highly physical battle against a resilient Ivory Coast side in Texas. The first half was tightly contested, defined by rigid defensive tactical battles and high-pressing midfields. Norway managed to break the ice late in the first half through a moment of individual brilliance, but the African powerhouse refused to back down. The second half saw a wave of impactful substitutions from Ivory Coast, which completely shifted the momentum. The Les Éléphants pushed hard and found a well-deserved equalizer, turning the match into a frantic, end-to-end spectacle. However, Norway's lethal talisman up front made the definitive difference in the dying minutes, sending the Norwegians through to a blockbuster Round of 16 date with Brazil. 

Goals

 39' | Antonio Nusa (Norway 1 - 0): The breakthrough came late in the first half when the dynamic youngster Antonio Nusa found the back of the net with a brilliant strike, leaving Yahia Fofana with no chance. The goal was briefly checked and officially awarded by VAR. 

74' | Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast 1 - 1): Ivory Coast’s tactical adjustments paid off heavily. Super-sub Amad Diallo, who had only been on the pitch for 15 minutes, revitalized the African side by smashing home a fierce equalizer to send the stadium into a frenzy.

 86' | Erling Haaland (Norway 2 - 1): With extra time looming, Norway's generational striker Erling Haaland proved exactly why he is feared worldwide. Haaland latched onto a late chance and clinical finished past Fofana. A tense VAR check confirmed he was onside, sealing the dramatic victory for Norway. 

Match 3: Ecuador vs. Mexico

Final Score: Ecuador 0 – 2 Mexico 

Stadium: Estadio Azteca / Mexico City Venue (Mexico City, Mexico) 

Playing in front of a fiercely vocal and packed home crowd, El Tri maintained complete control from start to finish to earn a definitive shutout victory over Ecuador. Ecuador entered the knockout match riding high on momentum after dynamically defeating Germany in the group stage last week, but they quickly found themselves choked out by Mexico's intense home energy and early pressure. Unfortunately, the match was briefly marred by a controversial homophobic chant from the home fans during opposition goal kicks, which drew boos and potential FIFA scrutiny. On the pitch, however, Mexico's tactical shape was unbreakable. Ecuador’s star midfielder Moisés Caicedo tried to anchor his team, but an early two-goal deficit proved too steep a mountain to climb. Mexico safely advanced to face either England or the DR Congo in the Round of 16. 

Goal Descriptions

First Half | Julián Quiñones (Mexico 1 - 0): Mexico took the lead early in the first half when the electric Julián Quiñones unlocked the Ecuadorian defense. Quiñones fired a clinical shot past goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez to send the home crowd into raptures. 

 First Half | Second Mexican Goal (Mexico 2 - 0): Before the first half could conclude, Mexico doubled their lead to put the game out of reach. Quietly orchestrating the masterclass, Julián Quiñones turned provider this time, setting up a teammate to hit a lethal blow that left Ecuador completely deflated heading into the dugout.