World Cup 2026: Mbappé sends Les Bleus into quarterfinals after hard-fought win over Paraguay
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in a tense Round of 16 clash, with Kylian Mbappé converting a second-half penalty to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
France defeated Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday in Philadelphia in a hard-fought Round of 16 match at the World Cup. Played in sweltering heat of 38 degrees Celsius (100°F) in front of 68,324 fans, Les Bleus dominated possession but struggled to break down Paraguay's defensive block.
The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when substitute Désiré Doué was brought down in the box by Diego Gómez. After a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty, which Kylian Mbappé calmly slotted home.
Mbappé's goal tied him with Lionel Messi as the tournament's joint-top scorer with seven goals. The Real Madrid star now has 19 World Cup goals in 19 appearances, just one behind Messi's all-time record of 20.
Paraguay, ranked 41st in the world, had eliminated Germany on penalties in the previous round and employed a low block and cynical tactics to frustrate France. However, they managed only one shot on target, in the 90th minute.
France coach Didier Deschamps made a tactical change by introducing Doué just after the hour mark, which paid off. The win sets up a quarterfinal clash against Morocco, who beat Canada 3-0 earlier.
The match took place on the 250th anniversary of US independence, with pre-game festivities including a rendition of the US anthem by Idina Menzel, a performance by hip-hop band The Roots, and an Air Force flyover.
