PHILADELPHIA — France celebrates America’s birthday on Saturday, July 4, when it takes on Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field in a Round of 16 clash to decide a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
Weather will play a big role in Philadelphia, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees at kickoff.
Kylian Mbappé has been unable to stop the French national team’s momentum so far, leading them to four wins in four games. The Real Madrid man scored six goals (two in three innings) and advanced to the Round of 16 with one lead over Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. His total of 18 World Cup goals puts him second in history, two behind Messi, who scored his 20th goal against Cape Verde.
The winner will play Morocco in the quarterfinals at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts.
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Manu Kone’s long shot from outside the penalty area was aimed at the top corner of the goal, but Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gil saved it and leveled the score.
Goalkeeper Mike Manninan played a perfect long ball to Kylian Mbappé, but Mbappe was unable to deal with the ball cleanly on the breakaway and settled for a corner kick.
Although Paraguay had yet to hit a shot on target (nor did France), the South American team continued to maintain possession in their attacking positions until the opening minutes of the second period.
France’s Adrien Rabiot had a long-range shot on goal, but it went wide just after the start of the second half. So far France have completed 319 passes, while Paraguay have completed 49.
Paraguay executed their game plan in the first 45 minutes, parking the bus defensively as France struggled to break down their opponents. The Frenchman had five shots in the first half, but none were on target.
Les Bleus are trying to adjust by going a little deeper with Kylian Mbappé and Mikael Oliseh trying to make something happen, but to no avail.
France continued to possess the ball as the first half drew to a close, but none of their star attackers could do anything.
Kylian Mbappé was pushed by Paraguay’s Andres Cubas, but the French star quickly pushed back. Both teams were forced to break up by the referee after a brief scuffle.
Adrien Rabiot took an unexpected shot from outside the penalty area, but it went wide. This was only France’s second shot, both from outside the box.
Manu Kohn, who started in the midfield that day, took a long-range shot toward goal, but it deflected and went off target. It was a frustrating opening 25 minutes for France as they tried to break through Paraguay’s super defensive formation.
France’s Bradley Barcola was given a yellow card in the 19th minute for a scuffle near midfield.
France toyed with Paraguay for the first 15 minutes but were unable to find a breakthrough.
France dominated the ball for the first eight minutes and were in Paraguay’s territory, but they were yet to find a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
After a long pregame ceremony, France and Paraguay kicked off at Lincoln Financial Field.
The matchup kicks off at 5pm ET.
- GK: Mike Menyan
- D.F.: Jules Kunde
- D.F.: William Saliba
- DF: Dayo Upamecano
- DF: Lucas Digne
- M.F.:Manu Kohn
- M.F.: Adrian Rabiot
- FW:Ousmane Dembele
- FW: Michael Olise
- FW: bradley barcola
- FW: Kylian Mbappé
Goalkeeper: orlando gil
defense: Juan Jose Caceres, Gustavo Gomez, Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso, Gustavo Velazquez
Midfield: Miguel Almiron, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza, Diego Gomez
forward: Julio Enciso
The Round of 16 games will be held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
“Frozen” star Idina Menzel sang the American national anthem during a pregame ceremony celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.
Seth Terny: Paraguay 0-3 France
Paraguay really improved after getting beaten up by the United States in the opening game. However, this French team seems almost unstoppable so far, and this game could go much like America vs. Paraguay.
john arnold: Paraguay 0-2 France
Paraguay are capable of spoiling games and defending, as they showed when they stumbled Germany to reach this stage. However, France’s attack is simply on a different level.
Jesse Yomtov: Paraguay 0 – 3 France
Will Kylian Mbappe and his team play against the team that conceded 4 goals to the USMNT? France should differentiate between Paraguayans.
victoria hernandez: Paraguay 0 – 3 France
French trains keep running smoothly!
With less than two hours until kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field and temperatures in Philadelphia at 98 degrees, this could be one of the toughest games of the tournament.
Both teams mentioned the heat wave before the game, with France coach Didier Deschamps admitting it was “not ideal”.
Paraguay and France are four wins away from winning the 2026 World Cup. The trophy, which hopes to be hoisted July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will travel to Philadelphia and be shown on Fox television in front of Independence Hall in Old City.
France’s round of 16 game against Paraguay kicks off at 2pm Pacific time.
France midfielder Aurélien Choameny will miss Saturday’s World Cup last-16 match against Paraguay due to a thigh injury, French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Friday.
The 26-year-old, who plays for Real Madrid, has started in three of France’s four games this tournament, with Manu Kone expected to replace him.
France has won the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018.
Michael Oliseh plays club ball for German giants Bayern Munich.
The 24-year-old, born in England, joined Bayern Munich from Premier League side Crystal Palace in 2024.
Paraguay, who will be appearing in the World Cup for the ninth time, have never won the tournament, with their best ever finish being the quarterfinals in 2010. The country was one of 16 teams in the first World Cup in 1930.
Kylian Mbappé of France entered the last 16 and scored his 18th goal in total at the World Cup, leaving him behind Lionel Messi as the all-time leader with two more goals.
France’s Kylian Mbappé, 27, made his World Cup debut as a teenager in 2018 and came out on top. blues Towards the second championship.
France’s Michael Olisset has provided six assists through four games at the World Cup, the 24-year-old Bayern Munich star’s first major international tournament since making his national team debut in 2024.
NFL quarterback and Fox correspondent Jameis Winston is also visiting the City of Brotherly Love as Fox sends its studio show to Philadelphia for Saturday’s France-Paraguay game. Winston stood in front of Independence Hall, holding a birthday cake and had his fans sing Happy Birthday to America.
I have never felt more patriotic than this!
Explore USA TODAY Sports’ latest brackets here.
Frenchman Kylian Mbappé plays his club football for Real Madrid, having just completed his second full season with the club after joining from Paris Saint-Germain.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup Final is scheduled to be held on July 19th at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey
- June 14th (Group E): Ivory Coast 1, Ecuador 0
- June 19th (Group C): Brazil 3, Haiti 0
- June 22nd (Group I): France 3, Iraq 0
- June 25th (Group E): Ivory Coast 2, Curacao 0
- June 27th (L group): Croatia 2, Ghana 1
- Saturday, July 4th (Round 16): France vs Paraguay
