France have booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in their Round of 16 encounter on Sunday.
The narrow victory sends Les Bleus into a blockbuster last-eight clash against Morocco, who earlier secured a convincing 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada.
Paraguay frustrated the former world champions throughout the opening half, with France unable to break down a disciplined defensive display as the teams went into the break goalless.
The breakthrough came in the second half when France were awarded a penalty after Désiré Doué was brought down inside the penalty area.
Captain Kylian Mbappé stepped up and calmly converted from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to score what proved to be the decisive goal.
France held on to their slender advantage to seal their place in the quarter-finals, where they will meet a confident Moroccan side aiming to continue their impressive World Cup campaign.
Morocco reached the last eight for the second consecutive tournament after easing past Canada 3-0 earlier on Sunday, extending their unbeaten run and reinforcing their status as one of the competition’s standout teams.
The quarter-final between France and Morocco is expected to be one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the tournament, with the Atlas Lions looking to build on their historic run at the 2022 World Cup and the French seeking another step towards lifting the trophy.
