Paraguay will look to derail France’s runaway train at the 2026 FIFA World Cup when the teams meet in a Round of 16 clash at the Philadelphia Stadium on the evening of Saturday, 4 July. Kick-off is at 11pm CAT.
Form and team news
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 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 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.
In terms of team selection for Les Bleus, defender William Saliba continues 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.
What the teams are saying
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.”
Players to watch
Paraguay – Julio Enciso
With a goal and two assists thus far at the World Cup, Enciso has been fundamental to Paraguay’s attack. If the South Americans are to have any realistic chance of upsetting France across 90 or 120 minutes, Enciso will need to be ruthless and tireless in the final third.
France – Kylian Mbappe
The 2026 World Cup looks set to be the coronation and confirmation of Mbappe as the best player on the planet. His pace, movement and razor-sharp finishing from seemingly all angles and distances marks him out as the most dangerous forward in the tournament.
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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