France and Paraguay face off in the last-16 of the 2026 World Cup on Saturday night. Both sides will be looking to reach the quarter-finals, with kick-off scheduled for 10pm (UK time).
Since their group-stage exit in 2010, France have reached the quarter-finals in each of the past three World Cups. That includes back-to-back runs to the final, winning in 2018 and losing in 2022.
France are perfect at the 2026 World Cup so far. They won all three games in their group, one of just three nations to achieve the feat. It’s something they hadn’t done themselves since 1998. That set up a last-32 game against Sweden, which France won comfortably to book their spot in the last-16 for the fourth World Cup running.
Paraguay, meanwhile, are looking to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for just the second time. That came the last time Paraguay were at the World Cup, in South Africa in 2010. They booked their spot in the knockout stages as one of the best third-placed sides, having taken four points from their group match matches.
It’s the fifth time Paraguay have made it out of the group stages. But nobody will have expected Paraguay to go any further, drawn against Germany in the last-32. The South American side fought hard and eventually beat their European opponents on penalties for a famous win.
This will be the sixth meeting between these two sides, and the third at a World Cup. Les Bleus beat Paraguay 7-3 at the 1958 World Cup, before winning 1-0 in 1998.
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Paraguay vs France team news
France team news
Didier Deschamps has made minor changes to his starting lineups across the World Cup so far. So we may still another few alterations here. However, the main core of the team will remain the same. Kylian Mbappe will lead the line and captain the side, as he seeks the all-time World Cup goalscoring record.
Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise will join him in the attack, with Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola fighting out for the final spot. They have alternated starts at the World Cup, so Doue may get the nod here — especially with goals no guarantee of keeping a space. Adrien Rabiot will start in the double pivot, likely to ke joined by Aurelien Tchouameni.
Theo Hernandez and Lucas Digne have also shared left-back responsibilities, with the latter starting last time out. So Hernandez could get the nod, with Jules Kounde at right-back. William Saliba and Dayot Upamenaco should start as the centre-back partnership, with Mike Maignan in goal.
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Paraguay team news
Diego Gomez is available for selection once more after missing the win over Germany through suspension. He’s expected to immediately return to the midfield, but the formation may stay the same. Paraguay switched to a 4-3-3 last time out, having played the first three games with a two-man strike partnership. Gomez has formed a midfield trio in a 3-5-2, alongside Andres Cubas and Matias Galarza. And that may return here.
Damian Bobadilla will be the one to drop out from the win over Germany, and that could be the only change. Miguel Almiron is expected to start on the right of the attack, with Julio Enciso making an impact from the left. Gabriel Avalos looks to be winning the battle to lead the line as things stand.
Omar Alderete remains a doubt after missing the Germany win through injury, so Jose Canale could keep his spot at centre-back. Gustavo Gomez is the guaranteed starter, regardless of who partners him. Juan Jose Caceres should start at right-back, with Junior Alonso on the left. Orlando Gill was the hero in goal last time out and will look to have a similar performance against France.
Paraguay vs France predicted lineups
Paraguay (4-3-3): Gill; Caceres, G Gomez, Canale, Alonso; Galarza, Cubas, D Gomez; Almiron, Avalos, Enciso.
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, T Hernandez; Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.
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