The World Cup continues its Round of 16 on Tuesday, with three matches to watch in France this evening and night. The first match pits Ivory Coast against Norway at 19 p.m., followed by the big clash for Les Bleus: France vs. Sweden at 23 p.m. The day continues with Mexico vs. Ecuador at 3 a.m., in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
France-Sweden: the match of the day
France plays its Round of 16 match this Tuesday evening against Sweden at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New York. Kick-off is scheduled for 23 p.m., with the game to be broadcast on M6 and beIN Sports 1. For Les Bleus, this is their first knockout match of the World Cup. France enters this encounter after a perfect group stage, finishing first in Group I.
A perfect group stage for France
France won all three of their first-round matches: 3-1 against Senegal, 3-0 against Iraq, and 4-1 against Norway. Their record: 9 points, 10 goals scored, 2 conceded, and a goal difference of +8. This performance places France among the strongest teams at the start of the tournament. They arrive at the knockout stage unscathed, boasting an effective attack and a strengthened status as favorites before facing Sweden.
Sweden qualified by the narrow margin
Sweden did not finish in the top two of their group. They finished third in Group F with 4 points, behind the Netherlands and Japan, but secured qualification as one of the best third-placed teams. Their record is mixed: a resounding 5-1 victory against Tunisia, a heavy 5-1 defeat against the Netherlands, and then a 1-1 draw against Japan. This Swedish team is therefore inconsistent, but they have already shown they can score and create scoring opportunities.
France's situation: Thuram out, Kanté doubtful
Didier Deschamps France must contend with a confirmed withdrawal: Marcus Thuram will not play against Sweden. The striker is unavailable for this Round of 16 match. N'Golo Kanté's situation remains uncertain ahead of the game.
A history favorable to Les Bleus
France and Sweden know each other very well. Before this Round of 16 match, the two teams had already faced each other 23 times. The record clearly favors France: 12 wins for Les Bleus, 5 draws, and 6 Swedish victories. Tonight's match is therefore the 24th France-Sweden encounter in history. The last meeting dates back to November 17, 2020, in the Nations League, with a 4-2 French victory at the Stade de France. Les Bleus have also won four of their last five meetings against Sweden. Another important detail: this France-Sweden match is their first encounter in the final stages of a World Cup. The two previous meetings in major tournaments took place at the European Championship: a 1-1 draw in 1992, followed by a 2-0 victory for Sweden in 2012.
Ivory Coast vs. Norway to open the evening
Before France-Sweden, the evening begins at 19 hrs with Ivory Coast-Norway, played in Dallas. The game is also scheduled on M6 et beIN Sports 1This match pits an Ivory Coast side seeking a historic milestone against a Norway team that has been eliminated from the group that included France. The Norwegians finished second in Group I with 6 points, behind Les Bleus.
Mexico-Ecuador in the middle of the night
The final match of the schedule will be played at 3 a.m. on Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. Host nation Mexico will face Ecuador in Mexico City. The match will be broadcast on beIN Sports 1. Mexico, playing in "its" World Cup, arrives as the undefeated leader of Group A. Ecuador, meanwhile, qualified as one of the best third-placed teams.
