Image: from Fabrizio Romano X @FabrizioRomano
By Open Chronicle with Agencies
France reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a hard-fought 1- 0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappé converting the decisive penalty in the second half.
The result sets up a major quarterfinal clash between France and Morocco on July 9, after the Atlas Lions defeated Canada 3,0 earlier in the day.
France Forced to Work
France entered the match as favourites but found Paraguay extremely difficult to break down.
The South Americans defended compactly, played with physical intensity and disrupted France’s rhythm for long periods. Les Bleus controlled possession but struggled to create clear chances in a match played in difficult heat.
Paraguay, which had eliminated Germany on penalties in the previous round, again showed defensive discipline and resilience.
🏆 FIFA World Cup 2026 (#89)
🗓️ July 4th, 2026
📍 Philadelphia Stadium🇵🇾 Paraguay – 0
🇫🇷 France – 1
⚽ 70' ― Kylian Mbappe (P)◆ France booked their place in the World Cup quarter-finals by beating Paraguay!
🏅 Orlando Gill, Man of the Match for Paraguay-France! 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/NrenkO3MrW
— ꜱᴘᴏʀᴛꜱ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ 🌎 (@_mkverma) July 5, 2026
Doué Changes the Match
The decisive moment came after Désiré Doué entered the game and immediately brought more directness to France’s attack.
His movement inside the penalty area forced the foul that changed the match. After a VAR review, France were awarded a penalty, and Mbappé kept his composure to score from the spot.
It was another important World Cup goal for the French captain, who continues to lead his team through the knockout stage.
Paraguay Push Late
Paraguay refused to give up and applied late pressure in search of an equaliser.
France goalkeeper Mike Maignan was called into action in the final minutes. At the same time, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill also made key saves to prevent Mbappé from adding a second goal in stoppage time.
France held firm, securing a narrow but valuable win in a match where efficiency mattered more than style.
Morocco Await
France now faces Morocco in the quarterfinals, a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal.
The meeting promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the next round, with France aiming to continue its pursuit of another world title and Morocco seeking to extend another historic campaign.
For Paraguay, the defeat ends a strong tournament run marked by organisation, discipline and a memorable victory over Germany.
Match Result
Paraguay 0,1 France
Goal
France: Kylian Mbappé, penalty