Tournament favorites France are just one win away from reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 , but Kylian Mbappé and co. must first get past Paraguay in the Round of 16.
France dominated Group I to secure its spot in the knockout stage with a flawless group-stage performance proving they will likely be the toughest team to beat in the tournament once again having picked up nine points.
The former world champions began their campaign with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Senegal before going on to win 3-0 against Iraq. In the final group match, they beat Norway 4-1 to complete a perfect group-stage campaign.
In the Round of 32, they went on to beat Sweden 3-0 to book a match against Paraguay, after the South American nation's major upset against Germany to qualify for the Round of 16.
If Les Bleus defeats Paraguay they would face Morocco , who booked their place in the quarterfinals after beating co-hosts Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16.
Kylian Mbappé gestures as Gustavo Gomez looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France.Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
The victory marked a big milestone for Morocco, as they became the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals more than once.
Mohamed Ouahbi's side won the crucial game through a brace from Azzedine Ounahi and a late stoppage-time strike from Soufiane Rahimi .
The Atlas Lions reached the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the Round of 32 and are proving to be a serious team once again in this tournament after their 2022 World Cup semi final run.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Jul 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Soccer section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
