Kylian Mbappe converted a 70th-minute penalty for the strikers seventh goal of the World Cup 2026 as France beat Paraguay in a fractious last-16 tie in Philadelphia to set up a quarter-final against Morocco. Real Madrid forward Mbappe struck coolly from the spot with his countrys 150th World Cup goal after Diego Gomez was correctly adjudged to have brought down substitute Desire Doue following a Video Assistant Referee review.Paraguay, who knocked out Germany on penalties in their first knockout-stage match of the finals, repeatedly escaped punishment from referee Ilgiz Tantashev for a succession of cynical-looking fouls, including a clear kick by Juan Jose Caceres on Mbappe after the goal. For all their apparent gamesmanship, La Albirroja performed admirably to restrict their vaunted opponents to precious few openings during the first half, although Manu Kone forced goalkeeper Orlando Gill to push his long-range effort behind in a fine save shortly after half-time.Gills excellent double save prevented Mbappe from firing in another during 10 minutes of added time, ending in a melee between both squads near the centre circle and justifiably exuberant celebrations for the victors.Table of ContentsFrance vs Paraguay: Bleus earn bruising World Cup winKylian Mbappe vs Lionel Messi: World Cup top scorer standingsWorld Cup 2026: Paraguay team vs FranceWorld Cup 2026: France team vs ParaguayWorld Cup 2026: Paraguay vs France statsFrance vs Paraguay: Bleus earn bruising World Cup winAdopting an attritional approach against opponents who had accumulated four preceding wins and 13 goals, Paraguay somehow escaped any bookings while producing every single dark art you can use, according to former Scotland international Pat Nevin.Paraguay are trying to wind up the France players, Nevin told BBC Sport, while former England goalkeeper Joe Hart called the South American side a disgrace and the lack of action against them astonishing. The ploy almost worked, although Paraguay head coach Gustavo Alfaros gesturing that Doue had dived for the penalty was fanciful.Despite the nature of their exit, Paraguay will take pride in their three-match unbeaten run after a 4-1 opening defeat to an impressive USA side, beating Turkiye and drawing with Australia before ousting four-time champions Die Mannschaft.France take on the Atlas Lions, who beat Canada 3-0 earlier on Saturday, in Boston on Thursday (21:00 BST).Kylian Mbappe vs Lionel Messi: World Cup top scorer standingsHeres how the golden boot race looks after Saturdays action. Mbappe is ahead of Messi because the 27-year-old has more assists.PlayerCountryGoalsAssistsKylian MbappeFrance72Lionel MessiArgentina70Erling HaalandNorway50Harry KaneEngland50Ousmane DembeleFrance42Vinicius JuniorBrazil41Mikel OyarzabalSpain41Ismaila SarrSenegal41World Cup 2026: Paraguay team vs FranceGomez returned from suspension as one of three new faces in Paraguays line-up alongside Gustavo Velazquez and Omar Alderete.Jose Canale, Damian Bobadilla and Gabriel Avalos moved to the bench.Paraguay starting XI: Orlando Gill, Gustavo Velazquez, Omar Alderete, Juan Jose Caceres, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Gomez, Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza, Julio EncisoParaguay substitutes: Gatito Fernandez, Gaston Olveira, Fabian Balbuena, Jose Canale, Alexandro Maidana, Ramon Sosa, Mauricio, Damian Bobadilla, Braian Ojeda, Gustavo Caballero, Antonio Sanabria, Alejandro Romero Gamarra, Alex Arce, Gabriel Avalos, Isidro PittaWorld Cup 2026: France team vs ParaguayKone replaced Aurelien Tchouameni, who had a groin issue, in Frances one change from their dismantling of Sweden in the last 32.France starting XI: Mike Maignan, Lucas Digne, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Ousmane Dembele, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Bradley BarcolaFrance substitutes: Brice Samba, Robin Risser, Malo Gusto, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez, Lucas Hernandez, Maxence Lacroix, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ngolo Kante, Warren Zaire-Emery, Rayan Cherki, Maghnes Akliouche, Marcus Thuram, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe MatetaWorld Cup 2026: Paraguay vs France statsFrance have won 16 of their 19 World Cup matches since the start of the 2018 tournamentDidier Deschamps has recorded 19 World Cup victories as a manager, which is the most in tournament historyNow 57, Deschamps was captain when France beat Paraguay in the last 16 on their way to glory on home soil at the 1998 finals, winning 1-0 through a 113th-minute Laurent Blanc goalParaguay had only progressed from a World Cup knockout tie once previously, winning 5-3 on penalties against Japan in the 2010 last 16La Albirroja have not beaten France in six attempts (D2 L4), losing both such matches at the World CupThey have not scored more than once in any of their last nine matches at the World CupWith 33 goals in 32 World Cup matches, Paraguay have the lowest average of any nation to have played at least 30 matches at the finals apart from South Korea (41 in 41).Julio Encisos opener against Germany was Paraguays first-ever goal in the knockout stage of the finals, having failed to score in their five previous such tiesMichael Olise has five assists at the finals for France and is one away from matching Peles World Cup record of six at a single tournament Topics 2026 FIFA World Cup Adrien Rabiot Aurelien Tchouameni Dayot Upamecano Didier Deschamps FIFA World Cup France National Football Team Ibrahima Konate Jean-Philippe Mateta Kylian Mbapp Michael Olise N'Golo Kante Ousmane Dembele Paraguay national football team Rayan Cherki William Saliba World Cup World Cup 2026 Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Kylian Mbappe: World Cup 2026 playing schedule, fixtures, kick off times, where to watch, confirmed news updates and full France squad Ben Miller 5th July, 2026 World Cup 2026: Full fixtures, dates, games, schedule and results from FIFA football finals Ben Miller 5th July, 2026 FIFA World Cup 2026: Full France fixtures, results, schedule, confirmed squad, next match, kick off times Ben Miller 5th July, 2026 Paraguay v France: World Cup 2026 live text commentary, updates, goals and stats as it happened as Mbappe penalty seals win Jon Fisher 5th July, 2026 World Cup 2026 live: Irritated Kylian Mbappe shoves opponent as exceptional Paraguay get under skin of France in last-16 tie Ben Miller 5th July, 2026 Canada boss Marsch takes dig at Morocco after World Cup 2026 exit: Id rather be us than them Ben Miller 4th July, 2026
