France beats Paraguay 1-0, Mbappé penalty sends Les Bleus to World Cup quarters

sportsJul 4, 202626255

Kylian Mbappé converted a 70th-minute penalty to give France a 1-0 win over Paraguay in a World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. France controlled large stretches of the game but needed the spot kick after Paraguay's Desire Doue was brought down, and Paraguay did not register a shot on target until the 90th minute. The match was played before 68,324 fans in sweltering conditions, with temperatures around 38 degrees Celsius and no interruptions unlike France's earlier storm-delayed group game at the same venue. Mbappé’s goal made him joint-top scorer at the tournament with seven goals and took his World Cup tally to 19. Didier Deschamps’ side will return to their Boston base to prepare for a quarterfinal against Morocco on Thursday in nearby Foxborough, after Morocco beat Canada 3-0 to reach the last eight. Paraguay, ranked 41st and coming off a penalty shootout win over Germany in the previous round, set up a low block and a physical game that frustrated France for long periods.

Laurent Dubois

@soccerpolitics.bsky.social

What an ugly, terribly refereed match. But les Bleus triumph - Morocco next & that will be 🔥

234h ago

MELLY

@mellyfratelli.bsky.social

Kylian Mbappé shouting ¡vamos! throughout this World Cup has brought me almost as much joy as I feel when I see Mbappé with a smile on his face. The first televised game I remember watching was France beating Paraguay 1-0 and we all know what happened next. Allez les bleus 🫶🏻

254h ago

Qsy

@qsy.bsky.social

The more I look at highlight reels from the France Paraguay team the more it seems that France's team was supposed to take everything on the chin from opponents who played football like a fucking bar fight only to be cast as villains because they were happy they won.

312h ago

Men in Blazers Media Network

@meninblazers.bsky.social

Paraguay allowed twice as many goals against the USMNT (4) as they did against Germany and France (2) 😮 A win that only gets better with age 😉

252h ago

laura olin

@lauraolin.bsky.social

I didn’t really care before and now I’m like ALLEZ LES BLEUS

264h ago

Prashant 🌊

@prasshant.bsky.social

ABC Which is Paraguay's one of the most popular newspapers, says - "Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev delivered a solid and composed performance" 🙄 Also says - Paraguay rose to the occasion, competed with dignity...

Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev delivered a solid and composed performance in

Philadelphia. He allowed the game to flow, maintained a balanced approach, and officiated the match without incident. The decisive moment of the game, the penalty awarded to France, was reviewed by VAR and subsequently confirmed by the referee, a decision that ultimately shaped the course of the match. Overall, the refereeing was well- suited to the flow of the game and did not negatively impact it beyond that key play.

143h ago

Prashant 🌊10

As per VS Sports of La Nación, Paraguay didn't resort to dirty tactics, Gustavo Alfaro's players certainly made the French, who tried to act tough, feel their South American rigor and Guarani grit.

Tim Campbell VO9

Breaking: infantino has awarded Tantashev the inaugural #Fifa "Excellence in Refereeing" award. #WorldCup

Zou T6

There are Soviet newspapers that have published more truthful articles

ben

@vtben.bsky.social

We asked our daughter earlier who she was rooting for between France and Paraguay and she said “Philadelphia.” Proud dad moment.

202h ago

The Cleric1

Some of you are saying “Go France” or “Go Paraguay” but the kids are yelling “Go Birds”

Aaron Lerner

@aaronclerner.bsky.social

Horrific showing from the referee in France-Paraguay. Truly terrible. The only thing worse was the behavior of the Paraguay players. Shameful stuff.

133h ago

lorem ipsum 🇧🇷🇺🇸

@whiskeynachos.bsky.social

During the game I saw one Brazilian poster saying Paraguay were speaking Guaraní on the field, I didn’t post it then because I had no confirmation. But if it was true that was an impressive piece of OPSEC against a France where a lot of them understand Spanish!

92h ago

Kathleen Bachynski

@bachynski.bsky.social

Goooooooooooooooool Mbappé for France on a penalty kick! Allez les Bleus!!!! 🇫🇷

85h ago

Meidas Sassy™ 🐬

@filosia.bsky.social

Not over yet... But they're dirty play ruined it for me. "Allez les blue"

64h ago

Archive

@archive041716.bsky.social

It's over now at the birthplace of America as Les Bleus escape a spicier game with Paraguay, winning 1-0 courtesy of a solo 70th-minute goal from Kylian Mbappé just as France are awaiting a 2022 semi-final rematch against Morocco. 🇵🇾 PAR - 0 🇫🇷 FRA - 1 #FIFAWorldCup #WeAre26

44h ago

Adam Sawyer

@adamjst.bsky.social

That was a professional win from France. The heat. Opposition interested in playing the game in the muck. A ref extremely willing to let it happen. And yet Les Bleus never seemed to lose composure.

54h ago