“It was a foul, and we were talking about whether it was a foul or not, and I told the Turkish player that it wasn’t a foul,” Almiron revealed to VS Sports. “I told him in English, he understood me, but you could tell he was paying close attention. Credit to him too, because he wanted to take advantage of it, and in the end, it’s a rule where I still accept my mistake and all that.“

Almiron added that covering one’s mouth had long been a routine habit among players, but the implementation of the new law changed everything. Fortunately for Almiron and Paraguay, La Albirroja held on for the win and eventually advanced to the Round of 32, where they pulled off a dramatic victory over Germany.

That red card wasn’t Paraguay’s only brush with controversy at the 2026 tournament. Tensions boiled over following their Round of 16 elimination, culminating in a heated confrontation involving French star Kylian Mbappe and Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Almiron’s comments on what the player said to the referee

Paraguay’s playmaker also shed light on Muldur’s post-match statements, pointing out that the defender capitalized on the technicality rather than claiming any offensive language was used.

“The player goes and makes a statement too, and in his statement he doesn’t say that I said anything to him, just that it was the gesture,“ Almiron noted regarding the Turkish full-back.

Despite his status as Paraguay’s focal point, Almiron struggled to find his top form in the tournament, completing just 73% of his passes and placing only three shots on target without finding the back of the net. With their World Cup campaign over, Paraguay now turn their focus to the 2028 Copa America.

“This is soccer. If they are not used to this, well, what can we do,” Gill stated, though he still valued the European squad’s performance. “I extended my hand to congratulate him, but since he ignored me… obviously, I had a moment of anger, but later I calmed down.

“I congratulate them, France have had an excellent campaign, they are candidates to be world champions,” the goalkeeper added following a matchup that was decided by a penalty converted by Mbappe. The French star also threw a barb at Paraguay’s players and their style of play.

Mbappe’s message

Throughout the match, Paraguay engaged in a physical battle, frequently relying on tactical fouls, hard tackles, and shirt-pulling to disrupt the fluidity of the French attack. Tempers flared on both sides as the intensity spiked between the players and the technical benches.

Following the victory, Kylian Mbappe did not mince words regarding the hostile environment against Paraguay, issuing a defiant message that has already begun to polarize fans and pundits.

“If we have to get our hands dirty, we will get our hands dirty,” Mbappe told reporters. “Paraguay thought we were going to show up in tuxedos, playing pretty, attacking football. We know how to play dirty too, and that is how they played.”

Mbappe extended his tally to 19 career World Cup goals, including an unprecedented 11 goals in knockout-stage matches—the highest total for any player in the history of the sport. Meanwhile, France remain on track as the top candidate in this edition.

What’s next for France?

The first quarterfinal matchup of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is officially set, and it promises to be a legendary rematch of the previous edition’s semifinals as France prepare to face Morocco on Thursday, July 9.

Morocco enter this showdown after becoming the first African nation to reach the final eight in two separate tournaments, following their dominant 3-0 victory over Canada. Meanwhile, France narrowly edged past Paraguay 1-0, courtesy of a decisive strike from Kylian Mbappe.

Per Fabrizio Romano, Mbappe was not happy with Paraguay in the postgame interviews. Mbappe said, “We show Paraguay that if they want to play dirty, we can also play dirty…”

In the end, there were 24 combined fouls on a total of 43 tackles. However, Paraguay didn’t get any booking by referee Ilgis Tantashev. After plenty of action, it was France the one who managed to win 1-0 vs Paraguay and progress through to the next round. In the quarterfinals, France will face Morocco.

Mbappe wasn’t the only taking shots at Paraguay

Rayan Cherki was subbed in by Didier Deschamps in the 84th minute of the game. Still, he didn’t tie his tongue in the postgame interviews, slamming Paraguay, who are out of the 2026 World Cup after the loss, for their violent gameplan to stop France’s attacks.

Cherki said, “Today we show who wants to go to war against us… that we’re ready to go to war as well”. Later, a clearly bothered Cherki added, “I didn’t know Paraguay can do 30 fouls without getting a yellow card”. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy that his team was in harm’s way in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

France managed to go through without any injuries

Paraguay saw Miguel Almiron, Julio Enciso, and Omar Alderete all leave the pitch injured. It wasn’t because of hits, but muscular problems. For France, they were able to leave the game unscathed, maybe a couple of bruises, but no serious damage.

Hence, now that France’s path to the 2026 World Cup final has been revealed, they can focus on that and leave behind a very hard-fought game against the Guaranis.

With this result, Paraguay are officially eliminated from the competition, leaving them with no chances left to keep fighting for anything. This clears the way for France to advance to the quarterfinals with a difficult path to the finals, becoming the second team to qualify, while Paraguay become the second team to be eliminated in the Round of 16.

France secured their qualification, where their opponent is already confirmed to be Morocco, who qualified after defeating Canada 3-0, but with the bad news of an injury to Ismael Saibari. The matchup is scheduled for July 9 at 4:00 PM ET at Boston Stadium.

Mbappe the savior for France

The only goal of the match came in what was an absolute battle from start to finish, resembling a sort of Copa Libertadores versus Champions League clash. The game was filled with choppy play, verbal exchanges, hard tackles, and a gritty, uncomfortable style of play. Kylian Mbappe shined once again, scoring to maintain his spot at the top of the tournament’s scoring charts with seven goals.

Mbappe’s goal originated from the bench after Didier Deschamps decided to substitute Bradley Barcola for Desire Doue in the 61st minute for France. On one of his first involvements, Doue cut inside, feinted past three players in the Paraguayan defense, and was fouled by Diego Gomez.

The play was ultimately reviewed by VAR and the penalty was awarded. Following plenty of protests and gamesmanship from both sides, Mbappe stepped up to take it, leaving no chance for goalkeeper Orlando Gill, who dived the opposite way of Mbappe’s strike.

It’s the seventh goal of the tournament for France’s all-time leading scorer, and the 19th career goal at the World Cup. Mbappe is coming off his third brace of the tournament in France’s Round of 32 win over Sweden earlier in the week. He scored in the 45th minute before halftime and then again in the 74th minute of the second half, both of which pushed his total of knockout-round goals at the World Cup to 10, a tournament record for an individual player.

Paraguay achieved their best performance in a men’s World Cup in 2010. In the tournament held in South Africa, the Paraguayans managed to reach the quarterfinals. At that stage, the Albirroja were eliminated by Spain via a late goal from David Villa. The Spanish national team would ultimately go on to become world champions.

In the group stage, the Paraguayan national team drew against Italy—the reigning world champions from Germany 2006—defeated Slovakia, and drew again facing New Zealand. The South American team thus finished in first place in Group F, and in the Round of 16, it faced Japan, eliminating them in a penalty shootout after a scoreless draw in regulation time. Oscar Cardozo’s spot-kick sealed the first qualification to the quarterfinals in Paraguay’s history.

How many World Cups have Paraguay appeared in?

The 2026 World Cup will be the ninth in Paraguay‘s history. The South American team was one of the 13 national teams that formed part of the first World Cup in 1930. Their next appearance was in Brasil 1950, where their participation concluded in the first stage. In Sweden 1958, they obtained their second World Cup victory, although they were once again eliminated in the opening round.

Paraguay would return to the World Cup in Mexico 1986, where the Guaraní team managed to reach the Round of 16. Following another absence, the Paraguayan national team returned to the World Cup for France 1998, where it once again reached the Round of 16.

This process continued with qualification for the 2002 World Cup, marking the first time in their history that they qualified for two consecutive World Cups. In that tournament, the squad repeated its performance by reaching the Round of 16. These were the best years on the international stage for Paraguayan soccer; between 1998 and 2010, they linked together four consecutive World Cups and won a silver medal at the Athens 2004 men’s Olympic tournament.

Who is Paraguay’s all-time World Cup top scorer?

With three goals scored, Nelson Cuevas is Paraguay’s all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cups. The former player opened his account with a brace in the Guaraníes’ match against Slovenia in the 2002 World Cup. The Paraguayan national team won that match 3-1, which was the final game of the group stage and secured its qualification to the next round. In the following World Cup in Germany 2006, Cuevas scored again in the group stage match against Trinidad and Tobago, a duel that ended in a 2-0 victory for the Albirroja.

Les Bleus have looked outstanding in the competition and undoubtedly are favorites to lift the trophy. Didier Deschamps’ side has combined attacking firepower with defensive solidity, making it one of the most complete teams in the tournament.

Despite the difference in talent between the two squads, Paraguay are expected to provide a difficult challenge thanks to the disciplined defensive structure built by head coach Gustavo Alfaro. Even so, one notable name is missing from France’s starting lineup: Desire Doue.

Why isn’t Desire Doue starting today?

Desire Doue is not in France’s starting lineup because of a tactical decision made by head coach Didier Deschamps. The French manager has instead opted to begin the match with an attacking quartet featuring Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola. With so much attacking quality available, Deschamps has chosen to keep Doue as one of his most dangerous options off the bench.

Could Desire Doue play for France against Paraguay?

Yes. Desire Doue is expected to be one of France’s first attacking substitutions if Deschamps looks to inject fresh energy during the second half. The young player has already shown his quality throughout the tournament and remains an important part of France’s plans heading into the knockout stage.

Although he has not been a regular starter, Doue has made the most of his opportunities. He has scored one goal in 238 minutes played during the tournament and continues to impress whenever he is on the pitch. If France need a spark against Paraguay, Doue is widely expected to be among the first players called upon from the bench.

Philadelphia is currently under an Extreme Heat Warning, with kickoff scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET. Temperatures are forecast to exceed 95°F (35°C), while the heat index could climb between 105°F and 110°F (40°C to 43°C), creating challenging conditions for players and fans alike.

With Uzbek referee Ilgiz Tantashev designated for today’s match, the game is still scheduled to be played as planned, although the dangerous weather has prompted concerns throughout the tournament. FIFA is monitoring conditions closely, and mandatory cooling breaks or potential delays remain possible if conditions require additional player safety measures.

Weather forecast for Paraguay vs France in Philadelphia

Conditions at kickoff are expected to feature intense sunshine combined with high humidity, making it one of the hottest matchdays of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Weather at kickoff (5:00 p.m. ET):

• Temperature: Above 95°F (35°C)
• Feels-like temperature: 105°F to 110°F (40°C to 43°C)
• Conditions: Mostly sunny with dangerous heat and high humidity
• Weather alert: Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect until 8:00 p.m. ET

Paraguay and France meet with a quarterfinal berth at stake

Paraguay’s FIFA ranking updated ahead of the game against France adds extra context to a Round of 16 matchup shaped by two very different routes. After producing one of the tournament’s biggest shocks by eliminating four‑time world champions Germany, La Albirroja arrive with momentum and confidence.

With several implications if France win, draw, or lose against Paraguay today, Les Bleus, meanwhile, defeated Sweden in the Round of 32 behind another outstanding attacking display led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise.

Following France’s match against Sweden in the Round of 32, rumors quickly emerged regarding a potential injury to the midfielder. Soccer insider Fabrizio Romano reported on Saturday morning that Tchouameni would miss the upcoming knockout match against Paraguay. He appears on the bench, yet he is not expected to see any activity against the South Americans.

Following the confirmation of the France vs Paraguay matchday kits, Les Bleus’ starting lineup was also locked in. Head coach Didier Deschamps’ starting XI is notably missing Tchouameni, who has been benched and is expected to sit out today’s encounter due to a thigh injury.

How severe is Aurelien Tchouameni’s injury?

According to Romano, Tchouameni’s thigh injury is not overly severe. Provided France manages to defeat Paraguay and advance, the midfielder is expected to be fully recovered and available for selection in the quarterfinals if Les Bleus defeat the South American squad.

Who will replace Aurelien Tchouameni against Paraguay?

France will face Paraguay at Philadelphia Stadium with a formidable starting lineup despite the sudden setback. Tchouameni’s absence has prompted manager Didier Deschamps to give Adrien Rabiot the nod to start in the heart of the midfield.

France’s starting XI to face Paraguay: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe.

Due to Argentina’s close win against Cape Verde, France got upgraded to the first spot of the FIFA ranking. Now, they’ve got to defend and solidify that spot in the Round of 16 against Paraguay.

France have 1916.24 points in the live FIFA ranking, which is good to top the list. As they face a much lower-ranked team in Paraguay, they still have to be careful, as the Guaranis already shocked Germany.

France’s movement during 2026 World Cup

France started the 2026 World Cup in second place, with Argentina leading the race. However, Argentina won just 6.31 points for their hard-fought win against Cape Verde, while France got 9.40 points for their big-time win over Sweden.

Hence, France leapfrogged Argentina after the Round of 32 and now can keep adding to their tally as well as progressing to the next round of the 2026 World Cup. France want to keep the status quo but all scenarios are possible depending on France winning, tying, or losing vs. Paraguay.

France are World Cup or bust

If France can’t win the World Cup, the fact is that it would be a disaster. Les Bleus are poised to lift the trophy. Averaging 3.25 goals per game and barely conceding throughout the tournament, they look as the most polished team in the tournament.

Paraguay are ranked 34th in the live FIFA ranking, which represents a seven-spot climb since the beginning of the tournament. Despite a bad start, Paraguay have recomposed themselves and now have the chance to go head to head against France in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia.

With a total of 1542.48 points, Paraguay aim to keep climbing in the FIFA ranking but a tough test lies ahead. France’s FIFA ranking is just way higher than Paraguay’s and that’s a testament to Les Bleus top level.

Paraguay’s FIFA ranking movement during 2026 World Cup

After the first game where Paraguay lost 1-4 to the USMNT, things didn’t look great as they lost 17.30 points. A bounceback was in order vs Turkiye as their win gave them 29.34 points back in their tally.

For their final match in the group stage, the tie vs. Australia provided 3.20 points for them. Then, the Round of 32 came and by eliminating Germany, Paraguay added 21.88 points.

Paraguay could climb more spots with a win vs France

Paraguay are less than seven points shy of Ukraine, so a good result against France will definitely help them overtake Ukraine. In fact, if they pull an unprecedented upset, they could even leapfrog South Korea, that have 1558.72 points.

The French reinforced their title credentials by defeating Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, producing one of the most convincing performances of the knockout stage.

Meanwhile, Paraguay have emerged as one of the tournament’s biggest surprises. After suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to the United States in their opening match, the South Americans responded brilliantly to reach the knockout stage before pulling off a stunning upset by eliminating Germany.

What happens if France beat Paraguay?

If France win over Paraguay, they will advance to the quarterfinals and their next opponent would be Morocco on July 9 in Boston. That would be a rematch of the memorable 2022 World Cup semifinal in Qatar, where France defeated the Atlas Lions 2-0 to reach the final. In this scenario, Paraguay would be eliminated from the tournament.

What happens if France and Paraguay tie today?

If the match between France and Paraguay ends in a tie after 90 minutes, it will go to extra time. If there’s no winner after the additional 30 minutes, the quarterfinal spot will be decided in a penalty shootout.

What happens if France lose today against Paraguay in 2026 World Cup?

If France lose against Paraguay, they would be officially eliminated despite arriving as one of the tournament favorites with one of the most talented generations in world soccer. Paraguay’s reward would be a quarterfinal showdown against Morocco.