Kylian Mbappé's seventh goal of the World Cup, a penalty kick in the second half, was enough to propel France past Paraguay 1-0 in a physically demanding Round of 16 match. The victory earns France a quarterfinal berth against Morocco.
The match, played on a hot day in Philadelphia, saw an intense atmosphere from the outset. Despite Paraguay being considered underdogs against the heavily favored French team led by Mbappé, the first half remained scoreless. The intensity of the game boiled over in the 35th minute when Mbappé and Paraguay's Andrés Cubas were involved in a shoving match, an incident that highlighted the physical nature of the contest. Paraguay managed to weather France's early pressure and reached halftime with the scoreline level.
France continued to press in the second half, with Mbappé creating further scoring opportunities. The breakthrough came in the 67th minute when France was awarded a penalty for a foul on Desire Doue, a decision confirmed by VAR. Mbappé stepped up to convert the penalty, past Paraguay's goalkeeper Orlando Gill.
This goal marked Mbappé's 19th career World Cup goal and his seventh of the current tournament, tying him with Lionel Messi for the tournament lead. Following the goal, Paraguay appeared to fade, though they mounted a late push, forcing a save from French goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the final minute of regulation.
Paraguay drew three yellow cards during the match, suggesting a strategy to try and provoke the French players. This physical tension extended even after the final whistle, with players engaging in further shoving near midfield. France ultimately advanced to face Morocco in the quarterfinals.