France 1 – 0 Paraguay

WORLDCUP · July 4, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

France edges Paraguay one-nil in a World Cup knockout that was never really in doubt once you look at the numbers, but Orlando Gill made sure it stayed interesting deep into the second half.

France owned this game from the opening minute — seventy-six percent possession, twelve corner kicks, fifteen shots. They were camped in Paraguay's half for long stretches, and Kylian Mbappé was the engine of all of it, firing five total shots and constantly pulling Paraguay's backline in different directions. Manu Koné was the quiet architect in midfield, completing sixty-six accurate passes and keeping France's rhythm relentless.

Paraguay, to their credit, refused to fold. Matías Galarza was extraordinary — seventeen accurate passes in a team that barely touched the ball, but more importantly thirteen defensive interventions, throwing himself into everything France threw at them. And then there was Orlando Gill in goal, who made four saves to keep this from becoming a rout. Júnior Alonso managed two shots — Paraguay's best threat going forward — but France only needed one moment to break through, and that was enough.

Three yellow cards for France tells you they were pressing hard and getting frustrated at times. Paraguay stayed disciplined, not a single booking, but the scoreline tells the story.

France advances, doing just enough with a whole lot of the ball. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 108 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Corner, France. Conceded by Miguel Almirón. 7'

Matías Galarza (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 12'

Foul by Manu Koné (France). 12'

Matías Galarza (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 14'

Foul by Michael Olise (France). 14'

Corner, France. Conceded by Júnior Alonso. 18'

Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 19'

Foul by Bradley Barcola (France). 19'

Bradley Barcola (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 19'

Attempt blocked. Manu Koné (France) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. 22'

Corner, France. Conceded by Diego Gómez. 22'

Corner, France. Conceded by Gustavo Velázquez. 23'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 23'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 26'

Attempt missed. Júnior Alonso (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Andrés Cubas. 28'

Attempt missed. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. 28'

Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 30'

Foul by Bradley Barcola (France). 30'

Foul by Matías Galarza (Paraguay). 30'

Manu Koné (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 30'

Attempt missed. Adrien Rabiot (France) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. 33'

Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 33'

Foul by William Saliba (France). 33'

Foul by Gustavo Velázquez (Paraguay). 34'

Mike Maignan (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 34'

Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay). 34'

Kylian Mbappé (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 34'

Corner, France. Conceded by Andrés Cubas. 36'

Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 36'

Foul by Dayot Upamecano (France). 36'

Attempt blocked. Ousmane Dembélé (France) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé. 38'

Corner, France. Conceded by Júnior Alonso. 38'

Foul by Julio Enciso (Paraguay). 40'

Jules Koundé (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 40'

Corner, France. Conceded by Omar Alderete. 41'

Attempt missed. Manu Koné (France) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Dayot Upamecano. 43'

Attempt blocked. Adrien Rabiot (France) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Bradley Barcola. 45'

Fourth official has announced 3 minutes of added time. 45'

First Half ends, Paraguay 0, France 0. 45'+4'

Second Half begins Paraguay 0, France 0. 45'

Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the right wing. 46'

Foul by Lucas Digne (France). 46'

Foul by Gustavo Velázquez (Paraguay). 47'

Michael Olise (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 47'

Attempt missed. Adrien Rabiot (France) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Manu Koné. 49'

Attempt blocked. Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. 50'

Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by William Saliba. 50'

Corner, France. Conceded by Juan José Cáceres. 51'

Attempt missed. Ousmane Dembélé (France) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kylian Mbappé following a corner. 52'

Delay in match because of an injury Orlando Gill (Paraguay). 52'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 53'

Attempt saved. Manu Koné (France) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). Assisted by Bradley Barcola. 54'

Corner, France. Conceded by Orlando Gill. 54'

Corner, France. Conceded by Juan José Cáceres. 56'

Substitution, Paraguay. José Canale replaces Omar Alderete because of an injury. 58'

Attempt missed. Bradley Barcola (France) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Adrien Rabiot. 60'

Substitution, Paraguay. Gustavo Caballero replaces Julio Enciso because of an injury. 61'

Substitution, France. Désiré Doué replaces Bradley Barcola. 61'

Attempt missed. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Désiré Doué. 64'

Penalty conceded by Diego Gómez (Paraguay) after a foul in the penalty area. 65'

Penalty France. Désiré Doué draws a foul in the penalty area. 65'

Delay in match because of an injury Désiré Doué (France). 66'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 67'

VAR Decision: Penalty France. 67'

Goal! Paraguay 0, France 1. Kylian Mbappé (France) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner. 70'

Substitution, Paraguay. Mauricio replaces Diego Gómez. 71'

Substitution, Paraguay. Gabriel Ávalos replaces Miguel Almirón. 71'

Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay). 72'

Adrien Rabiot (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 72'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 73'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 76'

Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 77'

Foul by Kylian Mbappé (France). 77'

Foul by Gabriel Ávalos (Paraguay). 80'

Dayot Upamecano (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 80'

Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 81'

Foul by Manu Koné (France). 81'

Manu Koné (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 81'

Foul by Gustavo Caballero (Paraguay). 84'

Michael Olise (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 84'

Substitution, France. Rayan Cherki replaces Ousmane Dembélé. 84'

Attempt missed. Júnior Alonso (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mauricio. 87'

Foul by Matías Galarza (Paraguay). 87'

Manu Koné (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 87'

Attempt saved. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). Assisted by Désiré Doué. 89'

Attempt missed. Mauricio (Paraguay) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Matías Galarza with a headed pass. 90'

Fourth official has announced 10 minutes of added time. 90'

Attempt blocked. Désiré Doué (France) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Michael Olise. 90'+1'

Foul by Matías Galarza (Paraguay). 90'+1'

Michael Olise (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+1'

Foul by Gustavo Caballero (Paraguay). 90'+2'

Dayot Upamecano (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+2'

Corner, France. Conceded by Júnior Alonso. 90'+4'

Attempt saved. Kylian Mbappé (France) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). Assisted by Désiré Doué. 90'+6'

Attempt saved. Kylian Mbappé (France) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). 90'+6'

Matías Galarza (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+7'

Foul by Michael Olise (France). 90'+7'

Michael Olise (France) is shown the yellow card. 90'+7'

Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by William Saliba. 90'+8'

Foul by Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay). 90'+9'

Kylian Mbappé (France) wins a free kick on the left wing. 90'+9'

Corner, France. Conceded by Matías Galarza. 90'+10'

Mauricio (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 90'+10'

Foul by Désiré Doué (France). 90'+10'

Second Half ends, Paraguay 0, France 1. 90'+11'

Match ends, Paraguay 0, France 1.