Fifa World Cup 2026: France and Morocco will play each other in a quarter-final on Thursday at 21:00 BST
Kylian Mbappe's penalty helped France beat Paraguay 1-0
Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said 'Paraguay's players were an absolute disgrace'
Watch highlights of all games here or you can relive the action with our 3D experience
England boss Thomas Tuchel praises respectful Mexico fans amid increased security before the last-16 tie at the Azteca at 01:00 BST
France 1-0 Paraguay
Micah Richards
Former England defender
Paraguay are better than that. Defensively, they were so good and they didn't need to get into these antics. It was embarrassing to see.
They tried to draw France into that - and they nearly did - but in the end they behaved in the right fashion.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
It looked like being a frustrating game for France and their captain as they failed to register an attempt on target in the first half.
The extreme heat had an impact, with this game going down as one of the hottest World Cup matches of all-time. The temperature at kick-off was recorded on the official page for the National Weather Service at 38.3C.
The record for a World Cup game stands at 43C, when the Republic of Ireland played Mexico in Florida in 1994.
Yet France still found a way to overcome the heat - and Paraguay's rough tactics.
"We know how to play ugly football," Mabppe said afterwards.
"They [Paraguay] thought we'd show up in tuxedos, but we were ready. Even at that game, we were better than them.
"That's their style of football - there's no right or wrong way to play the game. They tried to beat us that way, but we won."
Deschamps, who is now the first coach to secure 10 World Cup knockout victories, revealed he had instructed his players to shield Mbappe in the closing stages as Paraguay searched for a way back into the game.
"I asked the two biggest lads to go and stand around Kylian at the end because they were going to chop him down," Deschamps added.
"It wasn't easy. They use every trick in the book. It's not the kind of football that will bring people to the stadium, but they defended well. It is always difficult against these South American teams."
Mbappe was targeted from the start but kept his cool and reacted to Paraguay's provocation by laughing off their tactics on the pitch.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
Messi and Mbappe both found the net in the round of 16, keeping the Golden Boot race wide open as the knockout stages heat up.
With Harry Kane and Haaland playing this evening, they will both be pushing to score and close the gap in what’s shaping up to be a thrilling chase.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
A party at the Eurockeennes de Belfort festival in Eastern France as Kylian Mbappe banged in his penalty.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
Kylian Mbappe keeps his cool to send Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill the wrong way to score his seventh goal of the 2026 World Cup.
France 1-0 Paraguay
The referee may have missed a few fouls, but there was no chance Kylian Mbappe was going to miss that penalty.
He has now scored 19 goals in 19 World Cup games, taking him second in the all time World Cup goalscorers list- just one goal behind Messi on 20.
France 1-0 Paraguay
Paraguay players an 'absolute disgrace' - Hart
France 1-0 Paraguay
Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent
The 2026 World Cup has been characterised by refereeing that has tried to promote a free-flowing game.
But it went wrong for Ilgiz Tantashev.
Tantashev should have been fully aware of how Paraguay were likely to play - tough tackling and trying to limit France's ability to play freely.
The Uzbek referee should have clamped down earlier, shown his authority and given the impression that the rough tactics would not be tolerated.
See how Michael Oliver officiated in Saturday's earlier last-16 match between Canada and Morocco, producing six yellow cards before half-time. The game then calmed down, with only two shown in the second half.
The opposite happened in Philadelphia.
That the foul count was 13 to Paraguay and 11 to France does not tell a true story.
The referee missed many more fouls by the South American team – both tactical and off the ball.
Even more remarkably, not one Paraguay player was booked. But three from France were.
France advance, thanks to the penalty awarded through VAR and not the referee.
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Former Aston Villa midfielder
I had a lot of respect [for Paraguay] going in to the game. Joe [Hart] said disgraceful, but I have other German words I would use for them but I don't know them in English. I have little to no respect for them now. They way the behaved on the penalty incient.
If you are from Paraguay you probably like the team, they are like 'warriros' - if you are French or neutral, you can have no respect for them anymore. This is not just disgraceful, this is even worse.
France 1-0 Paraguay
Julien Laurens
ESPN journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live
For me, there are boundaries and limits to what you can do.
The fact that Paraguay have had zero yellow cards today, I just find it incredible.
I don't know how the French have three yellow cards and Paraguay none today.
France got through that test like they should have, it was not easy, it was not pretty but all they care about is that they won.
Some of the things that the French players did, falling on the floor and getting frustrated was exactly what Paraguay wanted.
It could have turned ugly and gone to extra-time and penalties and then everything is very, very different to what they feel now in the dressing room.
France 1-0 Paraguay
I think this may be the craziest stat of them all from last night.
Despite committing 13 fouls and causing multiple arguments on the pitch, Paraguay didn't receive a single card during the match.
This is the first time Paraguay didn’t pick up a single card in a World Cup match since 1998 against Nigeria.
France 1-0 Paraguay
Image source, Getty ImagesFrance 1-0 Paraguay
Neil Johnston
BBC Sport
"Paraguay's players were an absolute disgrace," former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. "If they were on my team, I'd be dragging them off the pitch."
After dismantling all before them at this World Cup, France had to find a new way to win to keep alive their dream of regaining the trophy they last lifted in 2018. Their 1-0 victory over Paraguay was hard earned.
Paraguay had won over neutrals by causing a major shock in the last 32, knocking out Germany on penalties.
But, in a bad-tempered match in the punishing Philadelphia heat, they showed their ugly side.
Andres Cubas escaped a booking after clattering into Adrien Rabiot. Juan Jose Caceres kicked out at Kylian Mbappe, and that went unpunished too.
Astonishingly, while Les Bleus players Manu Kone, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise were all cautioned, not one Paraguay player was booked. Not even when Gabriel Avalos dropped the elbow into the stomach of Dayot Upamecano when Paraguay were chasing the game.
"It was embarrassing to see," former England defender Micah Richards told BBC One.
"Paraguay are better than that. Defensively they were so good and they didn't need to get into these antics."
France's victory secured a quarter-final date with Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday (21:00 BST kick-off).
The decisive moment came with 20 minutes left when Diego Gomez had stuck out his leg to bring down Desire Doue. Referee Ilgiz Tantashev - whose overall performance was widely criticised for being too weak - reviewed the incident on the pitchside monitor, and awarded a penalty.
Even then, Paraguay's players crowded the Uzbek official in an attempt to delay the penalty kick, while Gustavo Velazquez tried to scuff the penalty spot before Mbappe scored his seventh goal of the tournament to go level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
"There were some insults from the other bench we could have done without," said France boss Didier Deschamps in his news conference afterwards.
Even after the full-time whistle, there was a scuffle as Velazquez attempted to confront France players.
"Paraguay tried to wind up the France players, little shoves and nudges but not enough to get a yellow card," former Scotland winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio 5 Live.
"Every single dark art you can use."
France 1-0 Paraguay
Adwaidh Rajan
BBC Sport
World Cup favourites France were made to sweat to book their quarter-final place but Kylian Mbappe's second-half penalty proved enough to help them past a resolute Paraguay in Philadelphia.
Paraguay limited the two-time winners to very few chances until substitute Desire Doue was fouled inside the box by Brighton's Diego Gomez and referee Ilgiz Tantashev pointed to the spot after a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.
Mbappe took the penalty and sent Orlando Gill the wrong way to ensure France's progress, as he drew level with Argentina great Lionel Messi on seven goals in the tournament's Golden Boot race.
The last-16 tie kicked off in extreme heat, with temperatures soaring to 38C, but it appeared to be no deterrent for France, who dominated possession from the start.
However, the Paraguay defence proved difficult to break down and that frustration was evident in the 36th minute when Mbappe lashed out after a foul on him by Andres Cubas.
Gustavo Alfaro's side, who upset Germany on penalties in the last 32, defended resolutely during a cagey first half that ended goalless and with neither side registering a shot on target.
France showed greater urgency after the break and finally forced Gill into a save through Manu Kone's effort from distance in the 54th minute - their first on target.
But it was not until Doue replaced Bradley Barcola on the left wing that Les Bleus found the moment they had been searching for.
The 21-year-old Paris St-Germain forward drove into the box four minutes after coming on and danced past a Paraguay defender before Gomez stuck out a leg to bring him down, allowing Mbappe to seal France's place among the final eight.
Let's start with France, who got past Paraguay and their questionable tactics.
That didn't matter too much to Kylian Mbappe, who scored yet again...
Morocco reach quarter-finals as co-hosts Canada knocked out
France overcome Paraguay to reach quarter-final
Morning folks!
Hope everyone managed an early night while gearing up for Mexico v England later…
Before we get carried away with tonight’s build‑up, let’s wake you up with yesterday's action first.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -4 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8 | -6 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 3 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 9 | -8 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 12 | -10 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 10 | -6 | 1 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | -4 | 2 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 12 | -11 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 5 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | -9 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 7 |
| |
| 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 |
|
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | -1 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 4 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | -3 | 3 |
| |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 | 2 |
|
