France secured a spot in the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay, setting up a highly anticipated match against Morocco.

Match Overview

Paraguay adopted a defensive 5-4-1 formation, aiming to maintain a solid structure throughout the encounter at Philadelphia Stadium, where the temperature soared to 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The South American team focused on quick counterattacks while limiting their offensive players.

France dominated possession from the outset, completing 202 passes in the opposition half within the first 30 minutes, compared to Paraguay's 33 passes. Despite their efforts, the French side struggled to find a breakthrough against a Paraguay team that had conceded only one goal in its last three matches. Kone came close to scoring in the 22nd minute with a powerful shot that deflected off a defender for a corner.

Decisive Moments

The match saw its first shot on target in the 54th minute when Kone tested Paraguayan goalkeeper Gill with a long-range effort. France was awarded a penalty in the 65th minute after Doue was brought down in the box by Diego Gomez. After a VAR review, referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot.

Kylian Mbappe stepped up to take the penalty in the 70th minute, successfully converting it and sending Gill the wrong way. This goal marked Mbappe's seventh of the tournament and his 19th overall in FIFA World Cups. France continued to press for a second goal, with Mbappe nearly doubling the lead in the 89th minute, but Gill made a crucial save. In stoppage time, Mbappe had two additional opportunities, but Gill denied him once more.

With a crowd of 68,324 cheering them on despite the heat, France held on for the 1-0 victory, advancing to face Morocco in the quarterfinals.