After defeating Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, France is preparing to face Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. This match will take place on July 5, 2026, at 4 AM (GMT+7). Kylian Mbappe shone once again, scoring two goals in the previous match, bringing his total to six goals in the tournament, which ties him with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

Paraguay, who recently pulled off a significant upset by eliminating Germany in a dramatic penalty shootout, poses a formidable challenge for the French team. Despite not being favored at the start of the tournament, Paraguay's disciplined play and resilient spirit have propelled them forward, making them a tough opponent for Mbappe and his teammates.

Currently, six teams have secured their spots in the Round of 16, including Canada, Morocco, Paraguay, France, Norway, and Brazil. In the upcoming matches, Canada will face Morocco, while Norway will take on Brazil. If France manages to overcome Paraguay, they will meet the winner of the Canada-Morocco match in the quarter-finals.

With the elimination of Germany and the Netherlands in this bracket, the path to advancing further looks promising for Mbappe and his squad. However, they must first navigate the challenge posed by a motivated Paraguay team, eager to continue their surprising run in the World Cup.