Home News France Defeats Paraguay to Face Morocco in World Cup Quarter-Finals

France Secures World Cup Quarter-Final Spot Against Morocco

Jul 5, 2026
63 min
4
Jul 5, 2026 02:31
France battle past Paraguay to set up Morocco World Cup showdown

## France Advances to Quarter-Finals

France secured a place in the World Cup quarter-finals after a narrow 1-0 victory over Paraguay in Philadelphia. The match, played in intense heat, saw Kylian Mbappe score the decisive goal from a penalty in the 70th minute. This win sets up a quarter-final clash with Morocco.

## Mbappe's Crucial Penalty

The French captain's penalty came after a VAR review confirmed a foul on substitute Desire Doue by Paraguay's Diego Gomez. This goal marked Mbappe's seventh in the tournament, tying him with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

## Paraguay's Strong Defense

Paraguay, who had previously eliminated Germany, put up a strong defensive performance, frustrating France for much of the match. However, France's persistence paid off, allowing them to advance.

## Morocco's Victory Over Canada

Earlier, Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 in Houston to secure their quarter-final spot. Azzedine Ounahi scored twice, and Soufiane Rahimi added a third in injury time. Morocco's win marks their second consecutive World Cup quarter-final appearance, highlighting their growing status in international football.

## Upcoming Quarter-Final

France will face Morocco in Foxborough, Massachusetts, in a rematch of their 2022 World Cup semi-final encounter. Both teams are eager to continue their successful runs in the tournament.

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