Mbappe penalty sends France past Paraguay into World Cup quarterfinals to face Morocco

France advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in their Round of 16 match. Kylian Mbappe's penalty in the 70th minute secured the win for Les Bleus, who will now face Morocco in the next stage.

The match, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, saw France dominate possession and create numerous chances throughout the first half. However, Paraguay's defense remained resolute, and the first half ended goalless.

Paraguay also posed a threat on the counter-attack, with Miguel Almiron and Diego Gomez leading their efforts. French goalkeeper Mike Maignan was alert to deny their attempts. The second half continued with France increasing the pressure, forcing Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill into several key saves.

The decisive moment came when Desire Doue was fouled inside the penalty area. After a VAR review, the referee awarded the penalty. Mbappe calmly converted, scoring his seventh goal of the tournament. Despite Paraguay's attempts to equalize in the closing minutes, France's defense, marshaled by William Saliba and Jules Kounde, held firm. Maignan made a crucial save in injury time to preserve the clean sheet, confirming France's progression to a quarterfinal clash with Morocco.