Published on: 04/07/2026 - 21:33 Last updated: 05/07/2026 - 23:43

France reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday evening at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, setting up a date with Morocco next Thursday in Boston.

France suffered, but was able to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, after its difficult victory over the Paraguayan national team, 1-0, on Saturday evening at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, setting a date with Morocco, next Thursday in Boston.

Kylian Mbappe scored the winning goal in the 70th minute with a penalty kick. This is his seventh goal in the 2026 World Cup.

Paraguay in defense and France in attack

Paraguay played with a plan that relied on five players in the defense line and four in the midfield, and with one striker, Encizo, the French Strasbourg player. She exaggerated the mistakes and strong interventions on the “Roosters” players throughout the match, and presented no other display than roughness and “aggression,” which angered the French more than once, especially since referee Ilgiz Tantachev (from Uzbekistan) was very tolerant of those who made mistakes.

For its part, France relied from the beginning on its offensive arsenal consisting of the quartet Olise-Dembélé-Barcola-Mbappe, but in light of the absence of the main and prominent midfielder Tchoumini in the midfield due to injury. She took the game upon herself, and imposed complete control until the final, even though she faced heroic steadfastness, but within the limits of fair play, from her South American competitor.

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France took the initiative to attack from the first timeout until the final whistle. The first attack was made possible in the first minute with a ball that was launched from the defense line and reached Jules Kounde on the right side. The Barcelona player passed to Mbappe in the middle of the defence, but the siege on the French captain paid off as he lost the ball to the defenders.

The French pressure continued amid the roughness of the Paraguayan team, which prompted French coach Didier Deschamps to intervene to remind his players of the need to remain patient and avoid skirmishes and verbal altercations with the opponent.

Read also: Morocco crushes Canada 3-0 and advances to the quarter-finals

In the 11th minute, Ousmane Dembele got rid of the left defender on the right side to provide a cross pass to Adrien Rabiot, but the defense cleared the ball at the right time. The defense also intervened successfully in the 22nd minute following a powerful shot from Manu Kone at the end of a quick attack by Mbappe and Michael Olise on the right side.

One opportunity after another

Mbappe's teammates launched other chances but failed to convert them into goals, especially in the 29th minute on the right side through the duo, Olise-Dembélé. The Paris Saint-Germain player passed a cross to Barcola, but the defense intervened again. There was a powerful shot from Rabiot in the 31st minute over the goal, then a dangerous opportunity following an indirect free kick and the ball passed near the goal line.

The same scenario was renewed in the second phase, and the confrontation turned into an attack-defense, and French attacks on the Paraguayan region continued without stopping. In the 49th minute, Rabiot tried to shoot the ball from 25 meters away, but his shot again went over goalkeeper Gil.

In the 51st minute, Mbappe received the ball in the midfield from goalkeeper Minyan and ran to the defense line, but the late shot was intercepted by the defense. Then Koundé shot hard, causing the goalkeeper to shine and dive to take the ball away from a corner kick that did not yield anything (52).

Desiree Doué shuffles Paraguay's cards

After a beautiful opportunity from Barkola after receiving the ball from Mbappe on the left side, he ran to the penalty area and the defense intervened at the last moment. The opportunity for the winning goal for France came through substitute player Desiree Doue in the 70th minute, when she won a penalty kick after a serious foul on the young Paris Saint-Germain striker in the area, confirming the “mouse” technique of the error. Mbappe took charge, scoring the lead goal with a good shot from the right side of the goal.

Paraguay realized that matters had been decided, and despite some weak opportunities, it did not prove that it was capable of turning the tables on France. The match ended with a logical and difficult victory for Didier Deschamps' team.

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The referee announces the end of the match with victory and France qualifies for the quarter-finals, where it will face Morocco, Thursday in Boston

Mbappe misses France's second goal after he penetrated the defense to shoot twice and goalkeeper Gilles intervened

France is approaching a fiery and exciting match against Morocco, next Thursday in Boston

Overtime: 10 minutes

A powerful shot from Mbappe at the end of a quick attack, and the goalkeeper pushes the ball away with his fist

Paraguay is unable to launch any attack against France's goal

changing

French players are subjected to strong and dangerous blows and tackles, and the referee never intervenes

Mbappe dedicates and confirms France's dominance in this match

The first goal scored by Mbappe

Penalty kick for France

A clear, grave error on a loud noise in the penalty area, and the referee investigates the mouse

A powerful shot from Mbappé from a distance over the goal, perhaps reflecting the inability of the French to find holes in the Paraguayan defence

A beautiful opportunity from Barkola. After receiving the ball from Mbappe on the left side, the Paris Saint-Germain player ran to the penalty area and the defense intervened at the last moment.

France is close to scoring against Paraguay?

A powerful shot from Kone, and the goalkeeper shines and dives to get the ball out, a corner kick that yields nothing

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