France and Sweden are set to meet for the first time in a World Cup match today, 30/6/2026, marking 96 years since the inaugural tournament in 1930. This highly anticipated round of 16 clash at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey brings an end to a near-century of missed opportunities between the two footballing nations.
The two teams came close to a World Cup final in 1958. Fans had reason to expect a showdown between Raymond Kopa and Just Fontaine's France and Nils Liedholm's Sweden at Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm on 29/6/1958. However, a brilliant performance by 17-year-old Pele led Brazil to a 5-2 semifinal victory over France, postponing a potential clash between the European powerhouses for decades.
Despite never having met at the World Cup, both France and Sweden are familiar faces in the tournament. France has played 76 matches, while Sweden has made 54 appearances. Both nations have produced golden generations and left significant marks on World Cup history, yet in an inexplicable way, they have consistently avoided each other across various tournaments.
Beyond the 1958 final, the teams had many other missed opportunities. In the 1950 World Cup, Sweden secured third place, but France withdrew before the tournament began. In 1994, Sweden again finished third overall after a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria, the same Bulgaria team that had caused one of the biggest shocks in history by eliminating France from the qualifiers.
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Henrik Larsson (left) and Stefan Schwarz with Sweden secured third place at the 1994 World Cup. *Reuters* |
When France reached the finals of the 1998, 2006, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, Sweden only participated in the 2006 and 2018 tournaments. In both instances, they were on the other side of the bracket, preventing any encounter.
Nevertheless, France and Sweden are not unfamiliar with each other in other competitions. They drew 1-1 in the Euro 1992 group stage on Sweden's home turf. 20 years later, Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored one of the most memorable goals of his career with an overhead volley, leading Sweden to a 2-0 victory over France in the Euro 2012 group stage.
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Zlatan Ibrahimovic (yellow jersey) scores with an overhead volley in Sweden's 2-0 victory over France in the Euro 2012 group stage at Olympic Stadium, Kyiv, Ukraine on 19/6/2012. *AP* |
Their most recent meetings were during the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, where each team capitalized on home advantage to win 2-1.
Ahead of today's match at MetLife Stadium, the scales are clearly tipped in France's favor. Didier Deschamps' squad won all three group stage matches, scoring 10 goals and cementing their position as a top contender. Sweden, meanwhile, advanced as one of the best third-placed teams. They enter the knockout round with less pressure but fully understand the challenge ahead.
Ibrahimovic commented on the French team, saying, "I don't see many teams that can beat them. Their opponents' only chance is when they slow down and lose focus. That is the rare moment you can make a difference. They are playing at another level."
On the other side, Deschamps has urged his players not to be complacent. Sweden still has individuals who know how to defeat France. Sebastian Larsson, now a member of Graham Potter's coaching staff, scored the second goal in Sweden's 2-0 victory at Euro 2012 — the last time the two teams met in a major tournament.
Larsson told Reuters, "Looking at history, we have beaten many stronger opponents. Even if the opponent is France, we still have reason to believe in our chances. I hope the players think the same way."
After nearly a century of anticipation and numerous missed encounters, France and Sweden will finally face each other at the World Cup. On paper, France is rated higher. However, World Cup history has repeatedly shown that football doesn't always follow the predicted script.
By Hong Duy (according to FIFA)
