France Beats Paraguay 1-0 on Mbappé Penalty to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals

France defeated Paraguay 1-0 in a World Cup round-of-16 match on July 4, 2026, in Philadelphia, ESPN reported. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal on a penalty kick in the 70th minute. Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Fahrenheit with an extreme heat warning in effect.

Mbappé has now scored seven goals in the 2026 World Cup, tied with Lionel Messi, and 19 goals in 19 World Cup matches overall. Mbappé is the only player to score at least three goals in the knockout stage of three World Cups. France scored 13 goals across its first five matches of the tournament but managed just one against Paraguay.

Mbappé said after the match: "We knew what kind of match we were going to have. We can also get our hands dirty, we know how to do it. We know how to play ugly football. " Rayan Cherki, who entered as a substitute late, said: "We knew that today, we would show our technical and tactical abilities less.

We reminded everyone that the France team is not just about football. " Didier Deschamps said: "It wasn't easy. If we'd taken one of our chances late in the game, it would have been a much more comfortable finish.

Paraguay use every trick in the book. " William Saliba said: "We fought a battle. " France advanced to face Morocco in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts. After the match, Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill threw a ball at Mbappé's back.

Mbappé and Matías Galarza also verbally sparred during the match.