FIFA World Cup 2026 LIVE updates: Mbappe penalty pips Paraguay in round of 16; Morocco end Canada’s run

In the end it matters not that France don’t have a second because they do have a fourth consecutive World Cup quarter-final appearance. Paraguay made it difficult, as anticipated, and the feisty nature of this match extends beyond the full-time whistle, at which point both sides offer some stern words to the other.

When France eventually decide to celebrate instead, the Paraguay players head for the referee. Mbappe seems quite happy, as you’d expect.

Mbappe pounces on a nice ball from Doue and pings a shot at Gill. It’s so hard that even though the keeper parries it away it rebounds straight back to France’s forward. His second shot should really go in and is heading for a little space near Gill’s right post. But he changes direction and dives and manages somehow to punch it away again.

Paraguay 0-1 France, 90+7 minutes

Paraguay 0-1 France, 90+1 minutes

The golden boot race continues in earnest, because that penalty puts Mbappe on seven goals for the tournament which means he joins Lionel Messi as joint leader.

The goal also dramatically reduces France’s chances of having to play extra-time in the Philadelphia heat (though the pitch is largely now in the shade).

Paraguay make two more subs, bringing off Gomez and Almiron and introducing Mauricio and Avalos. The injection of Mauricio is likely an attempt to bring some pace to Paraguay’s complete lack of attacking impetus. They may as well, at this point.

Paraguay 0-1 France, 81 minutes

Doui is on the ground in the box but the referee waves for play to continue. France are naturally aggrieved and protest, as the VAR checks for a possible penalty. Replays show Gomez has definitely made contact and looks as if he has tripped him.

The referee runs over the his monitor and, based on that replay of the incident it feels impossible that he won’t award a penalty here. He takes a look, and then heads back for the field and points to the spot.

This is France’s first penalty all tournament, and though Dembele has the ball initially, Mbappe is the one who readies to take the spot-kick. A stuttered run-up is followed by a finish into the bottom-right corner.

Paraguay 0-0 France, 70 minutes

Alderete goes down with some sort of issue, and is replaced by Canale. Enciso then goes down and is replaced by Caballero.

And then Barcola comes off (he is fine) for Doue.

Paraguay 0-0 France, 61 minutes

Big save from a very big man as Kone hits another from distance that is far more accurate than that other one. Apart from that, however, Paraguay have answers to everything France are throwing at them.

Moments earlier, Mbappe is offering a wry smile as Paraguay appeal for handball after his arm glances off the ball while controlling it under pressure from Caceres. That ball has come directly from Maignan in goal. France win a corner and take is so fast there are only two players there to go for it. One is Dembele, who flattens Gill.

Paraguay 0-0 France, 54 minutes

From green to pink. The majority of his teammates are wearing pink boots, so it might be to do with this. It also might be psychological. All pure speculation.

No changes of the personnel kind yet, as the second half gets under way.

Rabiot has a shot that is well wide.

Paraguay 0-0 France, 49 minutes

Apparently 81 per cent possession and five shots to two gets you nowhere, even you have a front three of France’s calibre. That is one way of saying Paraguay will be the happier of the two sides going down the tunnel. Their manager, Gustavo Alfaro, does not smile but has the look of a man who has just escaped an electrical storm. We know this because he’d been preparing for one.

“I am a country man,” Alfaro said yesterday. “When we were in Rafaela and a thunderstorm came I had to take shelter wherever I could because there were no lightning rods. It’s not like the city is full of lightning rods.

“In the countryside you have to take shelter, and not under a tree because lighting can strike a tree. France is like a thunderstorm and those lighting bolts coming from everywhere are aimed at the centre of the goal. So you know a thunderstorm is coming and you have to figure out how to avoid the lightning.”