PHILADELPHIA/HOUSTON, JUL 5 (IANS): Kylian Mbappé scored his seventh goal of the 2026 edition, slotting home from the penalty spot as two-time winner France overcame Paraguay 1-0 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Morocco at the FIFA World Cup, remaining on course for another title.
Mbappé scored the only goal of the Round of 16 match in the second half from a penalty to settle an attritional contest at the Philadelphia Stadium, moving level with Lionel Messi on goals but leading on assists in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot. The goal also moved teh France forward one behind Argentina’s all-time World Cup tally of 20. This was Mbappe’s record-extending 11th World Cup knockout-stage goal, while becoming the first player to score in the Round of 16 in three successive tournaments.
But it was not an easy outing for France, as was expected, as their opponents played physically.
Having stunned Germany on penalties to reach the Round of 16, Paraguay effectively shut up shop in a frustrating first half for France, whose players returned to their base with a few bruises on their bodies.
The Les Bleus dominated possession on Saturday night, but struggled to break down La Albirroja’s disciplined defence, with their efforts limited to speculative attempts from distance and none troubling goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
France began to make inroads after the restart, with Ousmane Dembele firing into the side netting following a quickly taken corner. As the pressure mounted, Gill had to dive full stretch to keep out Manu Kone’s powerful long-range effort.
Paraguay’s resistance was finally broken in the 69th minute after Desire Doué was adjudged to have been upended in the penalty area following a VAR review. Mbappe calmly dispatched the resultant spot-kick, sending Gill the wrong way to punch his team’s ticket to the last eight.
“We knew what kind of match to expect. I think it was really good for us to experience a game like that and to see how we handled it. We showed that we’re not just a team capable of playing attacking football. Every team uses its own strengths – there’s no right or wrong way to play. The only right way is to win. Now we have to focus on Morocco. We’re really looking forward to facing them because we know they’re a very good team,” said Mbappe after the match.
France head coach Didier Deschamps praised his side for remaining focused despite their opponent’s tactics in this match.
“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 used every trick in the book. It’s not necessarily the kind of football people enjoy watching, but we stayed focused, and that’s not easy to do. They’re a physical side, and they defend very well. It’s another important step forward. It’s always difficult against South American teams, but I’m delighted that the players got the job done. We’re into the quarterfinals, and we have to enjoy that,” said Deschamps.
France, who won the title in 1998 and 2018 and ended up as runners-up in 2006 and 2022, will next face Morocco, who knocked out co-hosts Canada in the opening last-16 tie, at the Boston Stadium on July 9.
Co-hosts Canada crash out as clinical Morocco storm into quarter-finals
Co-hosts Canada became the first host nation to be eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a ruthless Morocco produced a clinical second-half display to secure a 3-0 victory in Houston and book a place in the quarter-finals.
Canada came flying out of the blocks and had the better of the early exchanges but couldn’t make their pressure tell. The North Africans found it tough to get a foothold in the match with Yassine Bounou in the Morocco goal denying both Jonathan David and Tani Oluwaseyi in one-on-one situations within 11 minutes. As the first half intensified, seven yellows were shown by the officials, and the game came to boiling point in the 40th minute as captain Achraf Hakimi pushed Richie Laryea after both had been chasing down a long ball.
The second half saw a much-changed Morocco side take to the pitch and they opened the scoring five minutes after the interval. From a free-kick Hakimi cut it back neatly to Azzedine Ounahi, who was given too much room on the edge of the box and passed it beyond goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau into the net to give the African outfit the lead. Canada, as expected, were pushing for an equalizer but Morocco’s defence was solid. Despite a staggering 30 touches in the Moroccan box, Canada managed just three shots on target, and only one after the 11-minute mark. Ounahi completed his brace to seal the win in the 82nd minute, as Morocco broke away from Canada with pace and he cooly slotted it home, Soufiane Rahimi then completed the rout in stoppage-time as he dribbled the ball under the Canadians’ goalkeeper after his looping header had earlier rattled the crossbar.
The defeat ends Canada’s best men’s World Cup journey which had already yielded a historic first World Cup point, win, progression to the knockouts and round of 16 victory. Captain Alphonso Davies still recovering from a hammy was not in attendance.
Morocco will play Paraguay or France – who face off later on Saturday – in the quarterfinals.
Match Schedules
Portugal Vs Spain
12: 30 am (July 7)
USA Vs Belgium
5: 30 am (July 7)