Sweden have embraced their underdog status ahead of tonight's World Cup Round of 32 clash with France in New Jersey, insisting the pressure rests firmly on the 2018 champions.

With Argentina beating Jordan 3-1 and Algeria and Austria playing out a dramatic 3-3 draw in the final Group J matches, the group stage of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 came to an end on Sunday.

Following a hectic 17-day schedule featuring 72 group-stage matches, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is finally entering its business end, as hosts Canada take on South Africa in the opening Round of 32 match at Los Angeles Stadium tonight. 

Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, one of the most anticipated storylines was the race to break Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

When the name Zidane appeared on the back of Algeria’s goalkeeper’s jersey against Argentina in their opening World Cup match, it inevitably brought back memories of one of France’s greatest ever footballers.

Remember Szymon Marciniak? The bald-headed Polish referee who officiated the thrilling FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France three and a half years ago at the Lusail Stadium.

In a wide-ranging interview, Zulfiqar Mahmud Mintu reflected on his earliest FIFA World Cup memories, his coaching philosophy, the evolution of modern football and several other aspects surrounding the greatest football spectacle on earth.

Lionel Messi's Argentina and Kylian Mbappe's France, the two teams who contested a thrilling World Cup final four years ago, roar into the 2026 tournament on Tuesday.

On the night Argentina defeated France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, parts of Dhaka barely slept. Blue-and-white flags hung like tapestries from rooftops and balconies. Fireworks shattered the midnight, and dense crowds erupted in celebrations that perfectly mirrored the euphoric scenes at the Plaza de la Republica in Buenos Aires.

Even though Eduardo Camavinga was left out of France's World Cup squad he was at hand when Les Bleus arrived at their Masachusetts base, taking a brief course at Harvard University.

But what happened at the 1982 World Cup in Spain goes far beyond mere drama -- it was one of the most bizarre, unprecedented, and controversial episodes in football history, where a country’s prince walked onto the pitch to influence a referee’s decision.

Deschamps will name his squad for the World Cup on May 14.

Brazil and France will be among the leading contenders for World Cup glory later this year and the two heavyweight nations continue their preparations for the tournament by facing off in a glamour friendly in the United States this week.

France will play Brazil and Colombia in the United States in March as part of their build-up for the 2026 World Cup finals, coach Didier Deschamps said on Saturday.

France coach Didier Deschamps looked forward to a showdown between Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland after his side were drawn on Friday in the same group as Norway at the 2026 World Cup.

Reigning champions Argentina will face Algeria, Austria and first-time qualifiers Jordan in their 2026 World Cup group, according to the draw made in Washington on Friday.

Around 15 years ago, a new phenomenon emerged: the arrival in France of very young people

The Bangladesh U-21 hockey team put up another brave performance in the FIH Hockey Men's Junior World Cup before going down to a fighting 3-2 defeat against reigning runners-up France in their third and final Pool F match at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Tuesday.

On Friday, November 13, 2015, a series of attacks in Paris and around the Stade de France during a friendly match between Les Bleus and Germany left a total of 130 people dead.

Frenchman Nicolas Mahut delivered an emotional farewell to professional tennis after his doubles defeat at the Paris Masters.