Paraguay’s remarkable 2026 FIFA World Cup journey came to an end with a narrow 1–0 defeat to France in the Round of 16 after a fiercely contested encounter in Philadelphia.

The South Americans defended resolutely and frustrated the French for long periods, but the deadlock was finally broken in the second half when Kylian Mbappé calmly converted a penalty after a VAR-reviewed foul on Désiré Doué. Paraguay battled bravely in search of an equaliser, yet France’s defence and goalkeeper Mike Maignan stood firm to preserve the clean sheet. Despite the disappointment.

Paraguay left the tournament with their heads held high after an impressive campaign that included a memorable penalty-shootout victory over Germany, while France advanced to the quarter-finals with a hard-fought win.