France Edge Past Paraguay in Controversial Last-16 Clash
France kept their World Cup defence alive but were forced to dig deep in a 1-0 victory over a Paraguay side that deployed every trick in the book. On a sweltering afternoon in Philadelphia, Kylian Mbappé’s 63rd-minute penalty separated the sides, but the match will be remembered for the visitors’ use of the ‘dark arts’ – from time-wasting to a series of aggressive fouls that somehow escaped punishment until after the final whistle.
“Paraguay’s players were an absolute disgrace. If they were on my team, I’d be dragging them off the pitch,”former England goalkeeper Joe Hart told BBC One. Andres Cubas clattered into Adrien Rabiot without a booking, while Juan Jose Caceres was fortunate to stay on the pitch. Remarkably, Paraguay did not receive a single yellow card until the game had ended, sparking widespread condemnation.
The ugly scenes extended off the pitch, with former Paraguay goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert sparking outrage by labelling Les Bleus “a squad from Africa”. French football federation president Philippe Diallo condemned the remarks as racist, saying Chilavert had “fallen into disgrace”.
Mbappé’s cool spot-kick eventually settled the affair, meaning Didier Deschamps’ men progress to a quarter-final against Morocco.
Morocco Cruise Past Canada Into Quarter-Finals
Earlier, Morocco booked their last-eight berth with a 3-0 win over Canada, but the scoreline flattered the Atlas Lions. Jesse Marsch’s side began brightly and spurned several early chances; had they taken one, the outcome might have been very different. Instead, clinical finishing saw the 2022 semi-finalists through, setting up a rematch of the Qatar 2022 semi-final, this time at the quarter-final stage.
Norway Look to Rewrite History Against Brazil
While the knockout stage rolls on, Norway are preparing for their biggest match in a generation. After a 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance, they have already won a knockout tie for the first time and now face Brazil in the last 16. The Scandinavians famously beat the Seleção at France ‘98 and will hope to channel that spirit to reach a maiden quarter-final.
England vs Mexico: The Tie of the Round
Sunday’s most anticipated fixture pits England against co-hosts Mexico at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Thomas Tuchel admits adapting to 2,240 metres of altitude has been “impossible”, but insists his side are ready to “write our own chapters”.
“The players are coping well. It’s a unique occasion, but we’re not daunted,”Tuchel said, with England training at altitude on Saturday and facing a Mexican side unbeaten at the Azteca since 2013. Javier Aguirre, the Mexico coach, is trying to keep his team “grounded” amid the frenzy.
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. For other territories, check local World Cup broadcaster listings. Follow all the action with our live scores and World Cup 2026 hub.
Key Takeaways
- France survived Paraguay’s extreme gamesmanship and racist off-field comments to reach the last eight.
- Kylian Mbappé’s penalty was enough, but the lack of in-game discipline for cynical fouls drew fierce criticism.
- Morocco comfortably beat Canada 3-0, though the scoreline masked early Canadian promise.
- Norway’s fairytale continues; they face Brazil hoping to emulate the heroics of 1998.
- England’s clash with Mexico at the Azteca is the game of the round, with altitude and a hostile atmosphere posing unique challenges.
Quick Facts
France 1-0 Paraguay: Mbappé 63' (pen.) – no yellow cards shown to Paraguay before full-time.
Morocco 3-0 Canada: Morocco enjoy flattering win; Canada rue missed chances.
Norway vs Brazil: Last-16 tie; Norway chasing first World Cup quarter-final.
England vs Mexico: Sunday 6 July, Estadio Azteca; live on BBC One (UK).
Sources: The Guardian, BBC Sport
