Fresh off the shock of the tournament, Paraguay now face arguably the toughest possible draw. Having stunned four-time champions Germany on penalties, Gustavo Alfaro’s side travel to Philadelphia to meet a France team that has been the most ruthless in the entire competition, thirteen goals scored and barely a sniff conceded. One team has proven it can survive on nerve alone. The other simply does not miss. Here is the team news, the kick-off time where you are, the TV channel and our prediction for Paraguay vs France.
Kickoff is 5:00 PM ET on Saturday, July 4 / 10:00 PM in the UK at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In the US it is on Fox and Telemundo. In Britain it is free on the BBC or ITV, with streaming on iPlayer and ITVX.
Where to Watch Paraguay vs France
Free to air in the UK. In the US it is on Fox and Telemundo.
Quick tip: in the UK this is free on the BBC or ITV and their apps. Our guide to watching the World Cup in the UK has every channel and time. In the US it is on Fox with Telemundo in Spanish, plus Fubo, Sling and Peacock.
Paraguay vs France TV Channel and Live Stream
USA UK Paraguay France
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The Road to the Round of 16
Paraguay finished third in Group D before the upset of the tournament. France won Group I with a perfect record and have barely broken stride since. Every final group table is in our World Cup 2026 groups guide.
ParaguayFranceThe winner advances to the quarter-finals to face the winner of Canada vs Morocco. If level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties, exactly how Paraguay got here.
Lightning Rarely Strikes Twice, But Paraguay Will Try
What Paraguay did to Germany was extraordinary. Julian Nagelsmann's side had 76 percent of the ball and 21 shots, only six on target, and could not find a way past a Paraguay defence that simply refused to break. Julio Enciso's first-half strike, Paraguay's first ever goal in a World Cup knockout match after five previous attempts without one, forced penalties, where goalkeeper Orlando Gill turned hero and Jose Canale held his nerve to seal it 4-3. It was only the second knockout win in Paraguay's history, the other coming via penalties against Japan back in 2010. Gustavo Alfaro's players have earned every bit of belief they now carry into Philadelphia.
The problem is what waits for them. France do not miss the way Germany did. Didier Deschamps' side have scored in every single match, thirteen goals in four games, and Kylian Mbappe's brace against Sweden did not just seal a 3-0 win, it made him the outright record holder for World Cup knockout-stage goals with ten, on top of eighteen career World Cup goals in total. He is level with Lionel Messi at the top of this tournament's Golden Boot race too. Michael Olise has five assists without even scoring yet, and Ousmane Dembele adds a third route to goal that defences simply cannot cover all at once.
There is one piece of team news for France to manage: Aurelien Tchouameni is out through injury, with Manu Kone stepping into midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot. It is a rare blemish on an otherwise flawless run, and Deschamps has more than enough depth to cover it. History offers Paraguay almost nothing to cling to here. This is the first ever World Cup meeting between the sides, with only three friendlies on record, France winning one and drawing two. More strikingly, France have lost to a South American team just twice in their entire history, to Argentina in the 1978 group stage and to Argentina again on penalties in the 2022 final. Beating Les Bleus from South America is about as rare as it gets.
Paraguay will set up exactly as they did against Germany, compact, patient, waiting for a mistake or a set piece. They showed against Germany they can survive spells of real pressure. The concern is that France, unlike Germany, tend to finish the openings they create. If Mbappe finds space in behind a deep block, as he surely will at some point, he does not usually need a second chance. We expect France's ruthless edge to eventually tell, likely more comfortably than the scoreline suggests, though Paraguay's spirit means this run does not have to end quietly.
How They Might Line Up
Paraguay have Diego Gomez back from suspension to anchor midfield, with Omar Alderete a late fitness call. France are missing the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, with Manu Kone coming into midfield alongside Rabiot; otherwise Deschamps names his strongest available side.
PARAGUAY Β· Alfaro Β· 5-3-2Gill Β· Caceres, Gonzalez (c), Alderete, Balbuena, Alonso Β· Cubas, D Gomez, Galarza Β· Enciso, Almiron
FRANCE Β· Deschamps Β· 4-2-3-1Maignan Β· Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne Β· Kone, Rabiot Β· Dembele, Olise, Doue Β· Mbappe
Who Reaches the Quarter-Finals?
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A Word on Philadelphia Stadium
Better known as Lincoln Financial Field, home of the NFLβs Philadelphia Eagles, this venue is known as Philadelphia Stadium during the World Cup. It opened with a friendly between Manchester United and Barcelona in 2003 and has since hosted USMNT games, a Gold Cup final, and Club World Cup fixtures in 2025 including a Chelsea quarter-final. There is more on it at Wikipedia.
There is no World Cup history here. The sides have met three times, all friendlies: France won 5-0 in June 2017, they drew 1-1 in 2014, and drew 0-0 in 2008. This is the first ever World Cup meeting between France and Paraguay.
Paraguay vs France: Quick Answers
What time does Paraguay vs France kick off?
5pm Eastern in the US, which is 2pm on the West Coast. In the UK it is 10pm BST, in Paris 11pm, and in Asuncion 6pm. The date is Saturday, July 4, 2026.
What channel is Paraguay vs France on in the US?
Fox has the English-language broadcast, with Telemundo in Spanish. You can also stream it via Fubo, Sling and Peacock.
Is Paraguay vs France free to watch in the UK?
Yes. It is free to air on the BBC or ITV, with free streaming via their respective apps.
Is Aurelien Tchouameni playing for France?
No. Tchouameni is ruled out through injury, with Manu Kone expected to start alongside Adrien Rabiot in midfield instead.
What happens if it is a draw after 90 minutes?
This is a knockout tie, so a draw means 30 minutes of extra time and then a penalty shootout if the teams are still level, exactly how Paraguay progressed past Germany in the previous round.
Who does the winner play next?
The winner of Paraguay vs France advances to the quarter-finals to face the winner of Canada vs Morocco.
How did Paraguay beat Germany?
Julio Enciso scored the only goal in normal time, Paraguay's first ever World Cup knockout goal, before the game went to penalties. Goalkeeper Orlando Gill was the hero as Paraguay won the shootout 4-3.
What is the prediction?
We expect France to win, likely by two or three goals. Paraguay have shown they can frustrate a big side for long periods, but France's clinical finishing, unlike Germany's wastefulness, should tell over 90 minutes.
World Cup 2026 Guides
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