Les Bleus Reach 2026 World Cup Quarter-Finals After Tense Match vs Paraguay

Les Bleus clinched a spot in the quarter‑finals of the 2026 World Cup after a hard‑fought encounter with Paraguay on Tuesday. The match, played at the Estadio Defensores del Chaco, ended 2‑1 in France’s favour, with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann securing the win. Throughout the 90 minutes, officials allowed a high number of fouls, many of which went unpunished, prompting criticism from observers but leaving the scoreline unchanged.

Following the final whistle, the French squad maintained composure, emphasizing the importance of the result over the controversy surrounding the officiating. Coach Didier Deschamps praised his team’s discipline and focus, noting that the victory ensures France’s progression to the next stage of the tournament. Paraguay, despite a spirited performance, will now look to regroup for upcoming qualifying matches.