France defeated Paraguay 1-0 on July 4, 2026, in a tightly contested Round of 16 match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Despite controlling most of the game and facing efforts from Paraguay to disrupt their play, France needed a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé in the 70th minute to break the deadlock after Desire Doue was fouled.

The match, played in front of 68,324 fans amid heatwave conditions, was not an attacking showcase from France as Paraguay’s defensive tactics limited their opportunities. Paraguay did not register a shot on target until the 90th minute, highlighting the defensive nature of the game.

Mbappé’s goal continued his impressive World Cup performance, bringing his tournament tally to seven goals and tying him with Lionel Messi as the joint-top scorer. With 19 World Cup goals in 19 appearances, Mbappé is now just one goal shy of Messi’s overall record of 20.

This victory sends Les Bleus into the quarterfinals, maintaining their strong presence in the tournament. France’s earlier group stage match at the same venue was delayed by two hours due to storms but ended in a 3-0 win over Iraq.

Sources