SportsPublished: 5 July 2026 at 07:36
World Cup Knockout Stage: Morocco and France First to Reach Quarterfinals
The first round of 16 matches at the FIFA World Cup have produced the initial quarterfinalists. France edged Paraguay 1-0, while Morocco defeated Canada 3-0.
Two Contrasting Matches
The opening matches of the World Cup round of 16 determined the first teams to advance to the quarterfinals. The two games were strikingly different in nature and execution.
France, one of the tournament's top favorites, had to work hard to overcome Paraguay. The winning goal came from a penalty kick, with Kylian Mbappé playing a decisive role, resulting in a 1-0 victory for the French side.
In contrast, Morocco's performance was dominant. The African team became the first to eliminate a host nation, Canada, with a convincing 3-0 win, securing their spot in the next round.
