France Edge Paraguay 1-0, Set Up Last-Eight Clash With Morocco
France have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay, with captain Kylian Mbappé converting a decisive second-half penalty to separate the two sides.
Didier Deschamps’ men dominated possession throughout the encounter but struggled to break down Paraguay’s disciplined defensive setup. Despite controlling nearly 80 percent of the ball in the first half, Les Bleus failed to register a shot on target before the interval as the South Americans frustrated the tournament favourites.
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Désiré Doué drove into the penalty area and was brought down by Paraguay captain Gustavo Gómez. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Mbappé calmly converted, sending goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way for his seventh goal of the tournament.
Paraguay, who had shocked Germany in the previous round, pushed for a late equaliser but were unable to create meaningful chances against France’s organised defence. Goalkeeper Mike Maignan was rarely tested as France comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure another clean sheet.
The victory sends France into the World Cup quarter-finals, where they will face Morocco in a highly anticipated clash as Les Bleus continue their quest for a third FIFA World Cup title.
Paraguay, meanwhile, bow out of the tournament after an impressive campaign that included a memorable knockout victory over Germany. Their disciplined performances throughout the competition earned widespread praise despite their narrow defeat to one of the tournament favourites.
