France 1-0 Paraguay World Cup 2026: Mbappé Penalty Sends Favorites Through
France beat Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia on July 4. Mbappé scored from the spot at 70'. Simple match recap and who France play next.
France beat Paraguay 1-0 at the 2026 World Cup on July 4. It was a knockout match in Philadelphia - the losing team goes home.
France move on to the quarterfinals. Paraguay - who knocked out Germany on penalties - are out.
Final score
France 1 - Paraguay 0
| Minute | Who scored | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 70’ | Kylian Mbappé (penalty) | France |
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal from the penalty spot in the 70th minute.
Where was the game?
Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. This was a Round of 16 match.
What happened - in simple words
First half - Paraguay made France work
Paraguay defended deep and fought hard - the same way they beat Germany. France had possession but struggled to break through. Mbappé and Michael Olise had chances but no goal.
At half-time: 0-0.
Second half - Mbappé from the spot
The game got tense. There were fouls, arguments, and a physical battle in the heat.
At minute 70, France won a penalty. Kylian Mbappé stepped up and scored. 1-0 France.
That goal also put Mbappé back on top of the Golden Boot race at this World Cup - level with Messi on seven goals.
Paraguay pushed for an equalizer but could not score. France held on.
Why this matters
Paraguay were the story of the tournament - third place in their group, then penalties to beat Germany. Their run ended in Philadelphia.
France are among the favorites to win the whole thing. They now face Morocco - who beat Canada 3-0 on the same day.
What happens next
France vs Morocco in the quarterfinals on July 9 in Boston (Gillette Stadium).
Quick summary
- Result: France 1-0 Paraguay
- Goal: Mbappé penalty (70’)
- Date: July 4, 2026
- Next for France: Morocco in the quarterfinals
The favorites survive. The giant-killers go home.