Paraguay - France / 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the Paraguay vs. France match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on ŠPORT.sk! The match, which can also be watched live on JOJ play, kicks off at 11:00 PM.

The French national football team is living up to its billing as one of the top favorites at the ongoing World Cup. After a dominant run through the group stage, they delivered another commanding performance in their first knockout round fixture. Now, in their quest for a quarter-final berth, they face the tournament's surprise package, Paraguay, who will be looking to upset another European giant.

Paraguay's best-ever World Cup performance came a long 16 years ago when they reached the quarter-finals in 2010. They missed the subsequent three tournaments, making their successful return to football's biggest stage even more significant. Their potential was hinted at in pre-tournament friendlies, including a valuable 2-1 victory over hosts Mexico. Their only recent defeat came against Morocco (1-2).

Their opening match at the tournament didn't go as planned, suffering a harsh 4-1 defeat to the United States. However, the team demonstrated immense mental fortitude. In their second group game, they surprisingly stunned Turkey with a 1-0 victory, a hard-fought win achieved despite playing a full half with ten men after a red card.

The South Americans then sealed their place in the playoffs with a goalless draw against Australia, advancing to the knockout stages as a third-placed team. While it was clear they would face an exceptionally strong opponent in the Round of 16, they pulled off a sensation against favored Germany. They took an unexpected lead in the first half and, despite immense pressure from their opponents who managed to equalize at 1-1, they held on to win a thrilling penalty shootout. However, ahead of the Round of 16 clash, the coaching staff is concerned about the uncertain fitness of key striker Julian Enciso.

The French national team, often referred to as "Les Bleus," are fulfilling expectations as strong contenders for the golden trophy, a status reinforced by their record in the last two World Cups. After winning the title eight years ago, they were denied a successful defense in the previous tournament only by a penalty shootout in the final against Argentina (3-3).

They kicked off the current championship with a tough match against a resilient Senegal (3-1), struggling for long periods and scoring all their goals after the hour mark. Their performance significantly improved in their second outing against Iraq (3-0), where they took the lead in the 14th minute and comfortably controlled the game. They sealed their group dominance with a 4-1 triumph over Norway, netting three goals in the opening half and advancing to the playoffs with a perfect record.

Didier Deschamps' squad also clearly had the upper hand in their Round of 16 clash against Sweden (3-0). The scoreline could have been even more emphatic, had it not been for a disallowed goal in the first half. Striker Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring, marking his fifth goal of the tournament. France maintained their lead after the break and broke a historical World Cup record, scoring at least three goals in their fifth consecutive match.

The history of encounters between these two teams at the World Cup dates back to 1998, when France narrowly advanced in the Round of 16 with a 1-0 extra-time victory thanks to Laurent Blanc's golden goal. Two subsequent friendly matches ended in draws, and in their last meeting nine years ago, the European favorites secured a convincing 5-0 win.

Few doubt France's triumph and progression to the quarter-finals. Paraguay will likely be forced to defend deep in their own half, giving the favorites ample space for offensive pressure and shots on goal.