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France booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Kylian Mbappe’s second-half penalty secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over a resilient Paraguay in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Didier Deschamps’ side dominated possession for long periods but were forced to work tirelessly against a disciplined Paraguay defence before Mbappe finally broke the deadlock from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.
The victory keeps France’s quest for a third World Cup title alive and sets up a quarter-final clash with Morocco on July 9.
Played in sweltering conditions, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees Celsius, the contest quickly developed into a tactical battle. France controlled possession from the opening whistle but struggled to penetrate Paraguay’s compact defensive shape.
The South Americans, appearing in the World Cup knockout stage for the first time since 2010, frustrated Les Bleus throughout the first half, limiting the tournament favourites to few clear opportunities. Neither side managed a shot on target before the second half in one of the most cagey opening halves of the tournament.
France emerged with greater urgency after the restart and finally tested goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the 54th minute when Manu Koné unleashed a powerful long-range effort, forcing the Paraguay shot-stopper into his first save of the match.
The breakthrough eventually arrived after Deschamps introduced Désiré Doué from the bench. The Paris Saint-Germain forward made an immediate impact, weaving his way into the penalty area before being brought down by Brighton midfielder Diego Gómez. Following a VAR review, referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the penalty spot.
Mbappe stepped up with his trademark composure, calmly sending Gill the wrong way to score his seventh goal of the tournament and move level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Paraguay continued to battle until the final whistle but struggled to create meaningful opportunities against France’s organised defence. Gustavo Alfaro’s side, who had stunned Germany on penalties in the Round of 32, could not produce another upset as their impressive World Cup campaign came to an end.
France were far from their fluent best but once again found a way to win, underlining the experience and resilience that have made them one of the favourites to lift the trophy. Mbappe also continued his remarkable World Cup record, taking his tally to 19 goals in just 19 appearances on football’s biggest stage.
Deschamps will now turn his attention to an eagerly anticipated quarter-final showdown with an unbeaten Morocco side, while Paraguay leave the tournament with their reputation enhanced after pushing one of the competition’s strongest teams to the limit.
