The French national team secured a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals after edging Paraguay 1-0 in their Round of 16 match at Philadelphia Stadium, United States, on Sunday, July 5, 2026 (WIB).
Les Bleus captain Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot in the second half. The victory sends France into the last eight, where they will face Morocco, who had earlier advanced by defeating Canada 3-0.
France Dominate, Paraguay Defend Resolutely
France took control from the opening whistle, dominating possession but struggling to break through Paraguay’s disciplined defensive setup.
Les Bleus created their first clear opportunity from a set piece when defender Jules Kounde fired a shot following a corner kick, but goalkeeper Orlando Gill made a comfortable save.
Midfielders Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot also tested Gill with long-range efforts, but neither managed to break the deadlock. Despite France’s dominance, the first half ended goalless.
VAR Decides the Match as Mbappe Makes No Mistake
France intensified their pressure after halftime.
Kylian Mbappe nearly capitalized on a swift counterattack, but Paraguay defender Juan Jose Caceres made a crucial intervention before the Real Madrid forward could create a clear scoring chance.
The decisive moment arrived in the 70th minute, when the referee awarded France a penalty after reviewing the incident with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR). Paraguay midfielder Diego Gomez was judged to have fouled Desire Doue inside the penalty area.
Mbappe calmly converted the spot kick, sending the ball into the lower-left corner and wrong-footing Orlando Gill to give France a 1-0 lead.
Orlando Gill Shines Despite Paraguay’s Elimination
After taking the lead, France continued to press for another goal.
Mbappe threatened several times with his trademark individual runs, but Gill produced an outstanding performance to keep Paraguay in the match.
Paraguay nearly found an equalizer after French defender Dayot Upamecano made an error in his own half. Mauricio seized the opportunity and fired a shot, but goalkeeper Mike Maignan came to France’s rescue with a crucial save.
Deep into stoppage time, Mbappe came close to doubling his tally, but Gill once again showcased his excellent reflexes by denying the French captain on two consecutive occasions.
The final whistle confirmed France’s 1-0 victory.
France to Face Morocco in the Quarterfinals
The win sets up a quarterfinal showdown between France and Morocco. The match is expected to be a compelling contest, with Morocco arriving on the back of an impressive victory over Canada.
Meanwhile, France will continue their pursuit of another World Cup title, relying on the goalscoring form of Kylian Mbappe.
The fixture will also serve as a rematch of the two nations’ meeting in the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinals.
France vs Paraguay Result
France 1–0 Paraguay
Goalscorer:
- Kylian Mbappe (70′, penalty)
Lineups
Paraguay (5-4-1)
Orlando Gill; Juan Jose Caceres, Fabian Balbuena, Gustavo Gomez, Omar Alderete (Canale 58′), Junior Alonso; Miguel Almiron (Gabriel Avalos 71′), Mathias Galarza, Andres Cubas, Diego Gomez (Mauricio 71′); Julio Enciso (Caballero 61′).
France (4-2-3-1)
Mike Maignan; Lucas Digne, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde; Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone; Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele (Rayan Cherki 84′), Bradley Barcola (Desire Doue 61′); Kylian Mbappe.
Key Facts
- Kylian Mbappe scored again, strengthening his challenge for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Golden Boot.
- France recorded a clean sheet in the Round of 16.
- Les Bleus will face Morocco in the quarterfinals in a clash between two teams that have showcased solid defensive performances throughout the tournament.
- Paraguay’s remarkable World Cup journey came to an end after previously pulling off a major upset by eliminating Germany in the Round of 32.***
