Second Half 🇵🇾 Paraguay v France 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Full time in Philadelphia! France wins a tough battle, but without too much trouble against a Paraguay side that defended with heart, discipline, and commitment, yet offered very little going forward. Les Bleus move on to the quarterfinals, where they will face Morocco in a rematch of the Qatar 2022 semifinal.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 95. Mbappé comes within inches of scoring again! The French star fires two shots inside the box, but Gill makes two outstanding saves to keep Paraguay alive. La Albirroja is still fighting until the very end.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 90. There will be 10 more minutes in Philadelphia. Paraguay has one final lifeline to chase the equalizer, while France looks to close out the match and secure its place in the quarterfinals.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 89. Mauricio picks up a rebound from mid-range, controls and shoots, but does not strike it cleanly. The ball goes straight into Maignan’s hands. Paraguay’s first shot on target of the entire match.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 88. Mbappé unleashes a rocket from outside the box, but Gill reacts well and pushes it away to keep Paraguay alive. La Albirroja survives as France comes very close to a second goal.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 86. Ávalos tries to surprise with a volley from outside the box, but his effort flies well wide. Paraguay is pushing higher, but remains very harmless in attack as time continues to run out.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 80. Paraguay pushes its lines forward in search of an equalizer, but remains ineffective in attack. France wins the ball back almost immediately and is now controlling the tempo, patiently looking for a second goal. Time is on Les Bleus' side.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Here is Mbappé’s penalty to put France ahead on the scoreboard. The French captain stepped up with confidence, beat Orlando Gill, and finally broke through Paraguay’s wall in Philadelphia.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 67. GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL FOR MBAPPÉ! The French captain converts from the spot and gives France the lead. Kylian Mbappé reaches seven goals in this World Cup, drawing level with Lionel Messi in the race for the scoring lead.

🇵🇾 0-1 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 66. Penalty for France! The decision is confirmed after the foul on Doué inside the box. A golden chance for Les Bleus to finally break through Paraguay’s wall in Philadelphia.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 66. Attention in Philadelphia! Possible penalty for France after a foul on Doué inside the box. The match reaches a moment of maximum tension, and Paraguay is holding its breath.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 65. Paraguay is pinned back deep in its own half as France moves the ball from side to side, but Les Bleus still cannot win the key individual battles. Every time a French player beats one defender, another Paraguayan steps in to close the path. La Albirroja’s defense is proving extremely difficult to break down.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 60. The script remains unchanged. France controls possession and patiently searches for openings, but still cannot break down Paraguay’s defensive wall. La Albirroja continues to defend like warriors, waiting for one counterattack that could change the course of the match.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 53. Koné tries again from long range, but Gill answers with a brilliant save to keep the score level. Against Paraguay’s defensive wall, France is now turning to shots from distance as its main attacking solution.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 50. Maignan sends a spectacular pass toward Mbappé, catching Paraguay badly out of position. It looked like a huge chance for France, but the Paraguayan defense manages to recover in time thanks to a brilliant covering run from Velazquez.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 48. Rabiot tries again from long range, but his powerful left-footed strike sails over Orlando Gill’s goal. France continues to test its luck from distance as it struggles to find openings against Paraguay’s compact defensive block.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — The second half is underway in Philadelphia. Paraguay wants to keep resisting and dream of another upset, while France will look to raise the tempo and finally break through La Albirroja’s wall.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

First Half 🇵🇾 Paraguay v France 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Halftime in Philadelphia. France has run into a defensive wall and has been unable to break down Paraguay’s disciplined back line. Les Bleus controlled possession for most of the first half but created very few clear scoring chances against a determined La Albirroja side defending with organization, commitment, and composure. Forty-five minutes remain to decide the final quarterfinalist.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 32. Rabiot tries his luck from long range, but his shot goes over Gill’s goal. Les Bleus are starting to find more ways to attack, and Paraguay is once again under pressure near its own box.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 30. A brilliant delivery from Dembélé into the box finds Kylian Mbappé, but the French star is just inches away from making contact with his header. France is becoming more dangerous, taking advantage of a costly lapse in Paraguay's defense.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 27. After the cooling break, Paraguay pushes its lines higher and creates its first attacking move. Gómez tries his luck from distance, but the shot sails well wide. La Albirroja is starting to grow into the game and is now playing farther away from its own goal.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 21. First shot from Koné for France. The effort takes a deflection off the Paraguayan defense, but Les Bleus have now found their first chance of the match from long range.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 17. France has still not managed a shot on target. Paraguay holds firm deep in its own half, closing down spaces and forcing Les Bleus to move the ball without real penetration. For now, French dominance has not turned into genuine danger.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 10. France is struggling to break through Paraguay’s two defensive lines, which remain well organized and compact. For now, the French attacking machine has not found answers against La Albirroja’s low block.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Min 5. France takes control of the match and moves the ball patiently against a Paraguay side sitting very deep. La Albirroja is waiting for its chance on the counterattack and, so far, defending with discipline.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — The match is underway in Philadelphia. Paraguay steps onto the field dreaming of another World Cup upset, while France gets its powerful machine moving with the goal of continuing its run toward a third star.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

Pre Match

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Both teams are going through their final warm-up drills on the pitch. Paraguay is chasing another historic upset to keep its dream alive, while France aims to stay on course in its pursuit of a third FIFA World Cup title.

🇵🇾 0-0 🇫🇷

🇵🇾 🇫🇷 — Everything is set in Philadelphia for the Paraguay vs. France showdown, with a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinals on the line. La Albirroja looks to continue its historic run after knocking out Germany, while the French aim to strengthen their status as title contenders. A blockbuster match is about to begin! 

🇵🇾 vs 🇫🇷

A Rematch 28 Years Later

History once again brings Paraguay and France together in a FIFA World Cup knockout match. The unavoidable memory is France 1998, when the French advanced thanks to Laurent Blanc's dramatic golden goal in extra time, in a match forever etched into Paraguayan football history.

That unforgettable night also produced one of the most emotional images in World Cup history: José Luis Chilavert lifting and consoling his teammates after a heroic performance against the team that would eventually become world champion.

Twenty-eight years later, La Albirroja dreams of writing another unforgettable chapter.

Paraguay Lineup

France Lineup

Paraguay Chases the Biggest Victory in Its History

The team coached by Gustavo Alfaro has become one of the tournament's biggest surprises. After suffering a heavy defeat against the United States in its opening match, many expected the South Americans to be eliminated early. Instead, Paraguay responded with character, developed a clear identity, and improved with every match to finish as one of the best third-place teams in the group stage.

Its biggest statement came in the Round of 32, where Paraguay eliminated four-time world champion Germany thanks to an extraordinary defensive display and a memorable performance from goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who was the undisputed man of the match.

This Paraguay team is built on organization and discipline. The experience of Gustavo Gómez, the midfield work led by Andrés Cubas, and the pace of Miguel Almirón and Julio Enciso on the counterattack make La Albirroja an extremely difficult opponent for any team.

France Eyes a Path Toward a Third Star

If there is one team that has truly impressed during both the group stage and the Round of 32, it is France. The side managed by Didier Deschamps has displayed dominant, balanced football with the ability to decide matches from every area of the pitch.

The attacking trio of Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé has been among the most spectacular in the tournament. The three constantly interchange positions, attack open spaces with tremendous pace, and create an overwhelming number of scoring opportunities.

In midfield, Aurélien Tchouaméni has established himself as the team's anchor. His ability to win possession, dominate individual battles, and dictate the tempo allows France's attackers to play with greater freedom. At the back, Dayot Upamecano has been in outstanding form, leading a defense that has conceded very few scoring chances throughout the tournament.

On paper, France enters the match as the favorite to advance and remains one of the leading contenders to lift a third FIFA World Cup title. However, standing in its way is a Paraguay side that already proved against Germany that reputations mean little once the knockout stage begins.

Everything is set for a match that blends history, revenge, and two completely different footballing styles. The tactical discipline and heart of La Albirroja against the talent and firepower of a France team determined to continue its journey toward another World Cup star.

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