Image source: Alamy Stock Image
2026 World Cup
Round of 16
Paraguay v France
Saturday 4 July
22:00
Philadelphia Stadium
Paraguay will look to cause a second major upset in a row at the 2026 World Cup when they face France in a Round of 16 match, set for the Philadelphia Stadium on the evening of Saturday 4 July. Kick-off at 22:00.
Current form
Paraguay caused arguably the biggest upset of the tournament in the Round of 32 when they overcame four-time World Cup winners Germany. The teams drew 1-1 after extra time in their match in Boston (with Julio Enciso’s opening goal cancelled out by Kai Havertz) before the South Americans triumphed 4-3 on penalties – the first time Die Mannschaft have lost a shootout in World Cup history.
Los Guaranies had earlier finished third in Group D behind the United States and Australia. They opened with a humbling 1-4 defeat at the hands of the Americans, before a 1-0 triumph Turkiye and goalless stalemate with the Socceroos – which was enough to seal their progression as one of the best third-placed teams.
France have been imperious at the 2026 World Cup, racking up four straight emphatic wins. In the group stage they swept aside Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0) and Norway (4-1), before blitzing Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 – featuring a brace from Kylian Mbappe and a strike by Bradley Barcola.
Mbappe has hit six goals at this tournament (making him the co-leading scorer alongside Lionel Messi at the time of writing), while France have become the first team to score three or more goals in five successive World Cup matches – a sequence that started in their 2022 final defeat to Argentina.
Team news
Paraguay are sweating on the fitness of key attacker Enciso, who had to be substituted in the second half against Germany, while defender Omar Alderete remains doubtful after missing the last two matches.
France defender William Saliba continued to manage a persistent back issue that has lingered since the end of the 2025-26 club season, while Marcus Thuram should be available again after being ruled out of the Sweden match with a minor muscular injury.
Quotes
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro
“It seems if we don’t suffer, it doesn’t count. The shootout [against Germany] was dramatic, going to the sixth penalty. This qualification [for the Round of 16] is for all Paraguayans who believe in us.”
France coach Didier Deschamps
“The group stayed united, they did what needed to be done when I wasn't there [Deschamps returned to France following the death of his mother], and it was better for me and for them that I wasn't there. And from the moment I came back, they knew I was with them. But it's a very good thing. The mindset of a group doesn't win matches, but I know all too well that it can make you lose them.”
Head-to-head
France and Paraguay have met in five previous matches, and Les Bleus boast an unbeaten record (three wins, two draws). The Europeans have beaten their South American counterparts 7-3 and 1-0 in previous World Cup matches (1958 group stage and 1998 Round of 16 respectively), while the teams’ most recent meeting was a friendly in June 2017 in Rennes which the French won 5-0.
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