World Cup LIVE: France to play Morocco in quarter-finals after defeating Paraguay

[h2]Today's matches:[/h2][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/canada-x4toKORL/morocco-IDKYO3R8/?mid=pUYfr7u3"]Canada 0-3 Morocco (FT)[/a][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/france-QkGeVG1n/paraguay-YaNlqp6j/?mid=M5YPKKbB"]Paraguay 0-1 France (FT)[/a][/b][/p][p][b][i]France to play Morocco in the quarter-finals.[/i][/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2026-day-25-live-updates/8rJ3v1cn/"]Follow day 25 of the FIFA World Cup here![/a][/b][/p][h2]As it happened:[/h2][p][b]01:20 CET [/b]- So the first of the four quarter-finals has been locked in, with France and Morocco to lock horns at the home of the New England Patriots. [/p][p]Tomorrow will determine one more: Brazil face Norway and Mexico host England at Estadio Azteca, the final game to be played in Mexico. The winner of those two matches are off to Miami for their quarter-final.[/p][p]Keep an eye out in the morning (CET) for our [b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-world-cup-highlights-morocco-show-clinical-edge-while-france-see-off-paraguay/zeAh20uP/"]daily World Cup highlights[/a][/b], whilst our team will continue throughout the night to bring you the fallout from today's two matches. [/p][p]Good luck to those of you in England getting up just after midnight for their next game - hope you can join us![/p][p][b]01:09 CET [/b]- You can find our match report below. France's clean sheet was the difference, and that's just one of many reasons why centre back William Saliba has been named our Player of the Match.[/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-paraguay-france-round-of-16-report-july-4/zwi15dXb/"]France see off Paraguay in intense match to qualify for quarter-finals[/a][/b][/p][image alt="William Saliba v Paraguay" id="1b0d1f0f-27be-4cdc-99a2-4e5a905f2f06" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform / Image via Reuters/Bill Streicher" guid="b152c6b7-84ef-4585-9a50-6fd3970a7799" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]01:05 CET [/b]- Paraguay's tournament is over and there are plenty of heated exchanges from the substitutes of both teams in particular as Didier Deschamps tries desperately to move his players away from their opponents and towards the active French supporters at one end of the pitch.[/p][p]Freed From Desire is being blasted around the stadium much to the delight of the French supporters and players who were briefly dancing together. They're through to the quarters to take on the African champions Morocco.[/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="cdbd464e-96aa-4d4b-9bdb-279f1449cd5d" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="2d513161-69fc-41ec-a6ff-ceb94189212e" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]01:01 CET [/b]- Orlando Gill made a brilliant double save to deny Kylian Mbappe and keep Paraguay in the contest for the final five minutes.[/p][p][b]00:55 CET [/b]- The game is now into [b]ten minutes of stoppage time[/b]. Paraguay's energy and intensity has lifted but they're still not particularly threatening. [/p][p][b]00:35 CET [/b]- The hydration break has been taken with France ahead 1-0 after 72 minutes. Paraguay need only one set piece, one opposition error, one moment of brilliance.... but all three have appeared a long way away. The game resumes in the 76th minute.[/p][image alt="Match Momentum" id="ca3f9b01-a68f-4e4f-880e-904a1bcdf6eb" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="77bb1f46-b12c-4e5b-af79-aa0a00cdf3f1" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p][b]00:30 CET [/b]- [b]France have been awarded a penalty[/b]. Paraguay argued long and hard, Gustavo Velazquez was seen chipping away at the penalty spot with his boot (it went unpunished), and there were other shenanigans attempting to delay Mbappe's kick such as Almiron arguing about the position of the ball.[/p][p][b]MBAPPE WRONG FOOTS THE KEEPER AND OPENS THE SCORING. [/b]He notches up France's 150th World Cup goal. Paraguay made a double change in response with Gabriel Avalos and Mauricio coming on for Almiron and Gustavo Gomez.[/p][p][b]00:15 CET[/b] - France had a goal assisted by the goalkeeper after he cleared it directly to Mbappe near the halfway line, but Mbappe tried to control the ball for too long and was shut down by a defender. Mbappe trapped the ball inadvertently with his shoulder which slowed down his momentum. France took a very quick corner whilst Paraguay were arguing that Mbappe committed a handball and Dembele's shot from the corner went wide. [/p][p][b]00:10 CET [/b]- The second half is underway as shadows creep across the ground.[/p][p][b]23:52 CET -[/b] That’s half-time in Philly, and would you believe it, it’s still goalless! Despite surrendering the ball, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] have kept [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] contained, and restricted them to just five shots, with none hitting the target.[/p][p]It’s hot, it’s feisty, it’s gritty out there, and the South Americans will love that they are heading into the sheds with a clean sheet. The question is, can they maintain this for another half against the most feared attack at the tournament?[/p][image alt="First half stats" id="3670a137-5954-4fd0-965e-23d388affb2c" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="a54dffb7-e7e6-49e1-ad65-50493865bde9" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]23:27 CET - [/b]Well, the hydration breaks have come in for plenty of stick during the World Cup, but this one does feel warranted... it is 37 degrees in Philadelphia![/p][p]The French have bossed the ball so far, but it must be said, the Paraguayans haven't let them have a sniff of goal yet.[/p][image alt="Paraguay's Gustavo Gomez reacts" id="bed39c11-6410-4bc0-99ac-f962b124b623" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Bill Streicher" guid="1b34361b-50e2-496b-b8f3-c8d23e9a04ed" original-width="3860" original-height="2456" /][p][b]23:20 CET - [/b]We are over 15 minutes into the match in Philly, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] have absolutely dominated the ball, as expected, with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] setting up in their ultra-defensive structure, and happy to concede possession. They have at least successfully contained Les Bleus… for now.[/p][image alt="Paraguay have set up very deep" id="d71c00d7-a993-4a93-90bf-1246f833d827" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Bill Streicher)" guid="d3145331-ac51-46b6-a388-ee9af7d0c47d" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]22:55 CET - [/b]The players are coming out at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field for the Round of 16 clash between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a], meaning kick-off is just around the corner! It is, of course, Independence Day in the States, so there's been plenty of pre-match pageantry, as expected.[/p][p][b]You can follow every kick of the game with our live audio commentary via the link above.[/b][/p][image alt="General view as players walk out before the start of the match" id="83ad722d-d0f0-48c3-8442-1d1bc4125635" credit-line="Reuters / Jeenah Moon" guid="45f03b2c-9b48-4c83-88ef-bfbc647fd0ea" original-width="6000" original-height="4000" /][p][b]21:38 CET - [/b]The lineups are in for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a]'s Round of 16 clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] - check out who's starting below.[/p][p]As expected, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tchouameni-aurelien/QkiZum3e/"]Aurelien Tchouameni[/a] makes way for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kone-kouadio/YDaoYZBS/"]Manu Kone[/a] in the only change to the XI from Les Bleus' win over Sweden in the previous round.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gomez-diego/KrSC9Fhb/"]Diego Gomez[/a] returns to Paraguay's starting lineup following his yellow-card suspension in the last round.[/p][image alt="Starting lineups for France vs Paraguay" id="3bdf10b7-ad57-41ec-aee2-705b4a8ab012" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="774cecf2-a7a2-415d-b40c-793816492257" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]21:30 CET - [/b]Next up at the World Cup, we head to a scorching hot Philadelphia for the second Round of 16 clash, between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a]! Get primed for that with our video preview below:[/p][video alt="Paraguay vs France (video preview)" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="cef734bc-8973-4a4a-b10f-fb2076910662" id="e05a847a-d90b-4243-8443-dfac576bdca1" /][p][b]21:20 CET - [/b]No prizes for guessing the star of the show in Houston... [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a]'s [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a] led the way in terms of Flashscore's in-house player ratings, with a score of[b] 8.7[/b], thanks principally to his two beautifully taken goals to effectively send his nation through to the final eight.[/p][image alt="Ounahi was the star against Canada" id="17fb887d-7b8f-4e71-bc53-e8f535f605e8" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker)" guid="b197aa34-72cc-4f38-bd43-f1601ed527ae" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/rating/WtG2SIIU/"]Read more about how Flashscore's player ratings work here.[/a][/b][/p][p][b]21:04 CET -[/b] That is full-time in the first Round of 16 clash, and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] have overcome tournament co-hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] 3-0 to progress to the final eight, for the second World Cup running.[/p][image alt="Match momentum" id="ea67d3da-b460-4ab7-984b-163cfb3f7f83" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="e6195010-83ce-440f-92ae-8cc223f0a9ad" original-width="1920" original-height="1080" /][p]After a feisty first half, the North Africans showed up in the second with two goals of real quality, both off the boot of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a], before adding a very late third from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahimi-soufiane/OYfFre1D/"]Soufiane Rahimi[/a].[/p][p]In all honesty, the scoreline flatters the Moroccans; they weren't very convincing in the first half, and the Canadians edged the match in shots, xG and corners. However, one side took their chances while the other didn't. Houston, we have a quarter-finalist![/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-world-championship-canada-morocco-round-of-16-report-july-4/Kl3iKLm4/"]Read our full match report here.[/a][/b][/p][image alt="Key match stats" id="a5b60705-79b6-4af2-b0c0-7c3759110dff" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="c5f8b27e-a139-4073-8b6f-01534816a818" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]21:02 CET - GOAL! And Morocco have a third. [/b]Canada were pushing for a goal, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahimi-soufiane/OYfFre1D/"]Soufiane Rahimi[/a] has added a breakaway third for the Moroccans. Game over.[/p][p][b]20:46 CET - GOAL! Morocco have doubled their lead over Canada. [/b]And it's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a] once again for the North African nation, who finished off a swift counter-attack with another very classy finish, this time up in the top corner. With less than 10 minutes to go, that feels like game over in Houston...[/p][image alt="Morocco's Azzedine Ounahi celebrates scoring their second goal with teammates" id="65264598-d308-47fa-b72b-0b3ddb5237c6" credit-line="Reuters / Hannah Mckay" guid="91c04332-30b1-4356-89a7-d2187e58e845" original-width="4698" original-height="3305" /][p][b]20:32 CET -[/b] Coming into the second hydration break of the match, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] have it all to do, trailing [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] 1-0. The Canadians still haven’t mustered a shot on target this half, and will need to recapture the energy with which they started the game if they are to draw level. They have just over 20 minutes of regular time to do something in Houston, or they are out![/p][image alt="Canada's average positions so far" id="ab0526af-c60f-4906-8f3c-7c94874c269b" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Taormina)" guid="36b24ad8-0f9c-44cb-b645-58207d8c0762" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]20:14 CET - GOAL! Morocco have scored to make it 1-0 against Canada. [/b]Would you believe it, a rare bit of quality in this match as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ounahi-azzedine/reDF5hxm/"]Azzedine Ounahi[/a] calmly strokes the ball into the bottom corner after being teed up by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a] from a free kick.[/p][p]That is precisely the start to the half the Moroccans would have dreamed of, and it might just spark this contest into life, too.[/p][image alt="Ounahi's opener for Morocco" id="aef63f0b-1778-4b81-ae5a-ff46ba418118" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Maria Lysaker)" guid="317df42c-6179-4410-b5d9-7a825ae7aea4" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]20:09 CET - The second half is now underway in Houston. You can follow every kick with our live audio commentary via the link above.[/b][/p][p][b]19:55 CET - [/b]That’s half-time in Houston, and it is still goalless between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a], in what has been a feisty affair. To illustrate that, there have already been six yellow cards handed out, which is more than the total number of shots![/p][p]After a bright start from Canada, the chances dried up quickly for both sides, but a goal early in the second half could blow this match right open. It hasn't been top quality, but it's anyone's game still. [/p][image alt="First-half stats" id="fda3139d-f868-404e-b7b3-ed298142527b" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="d07b1ce9-19d1-40d3-ae69-657c7300455f" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]19:42 CET - [/b]There's been a bit of pushing and shoving with yellow cards shown to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/laryea-richie/nT1BbXIh/"]Richie Laryea[/a] of Canada and Moroccan captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hakimi-achraf/MqFBkBsp/"]Achraf Hakimi[/a]. It's been a bit disjointed out there since the water break, tempers flaring too, it seems.[/p][image alt="The referee stands between Canada's Richie Laryea and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi after an altercation" id="4a785564-33a0-4172-a39c-d90afd55f04c" credit-line="Reuters / Issei Kato" guid="83c11e02-0710-4d77-948b-72cdd6fdf7f6" original-width="3666" original-height="2420" /][p][b]19:24 CET -[/b] A big blow for Morocco just before the first hypdation break with star player [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saibari-ismael/WzSmqNMQ/"]Ismael Saibari[/a] forced off with an injury. Manager Mohamed Ouahbi has thus had to make an unplanned substitution with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rahimi-soufiane/OYfFre1D/"]Soufiane Rahimi[/a] now on in Saibari's place.[/p][image alt="Morocco's Ismael Saibari comes off the pitch after sustaining an injury" id="38bb7921-296c-4869-a410-b7fa18bac8ab" credit-line="Reuters / Issei Kato" guid="6c64e6ac-007a-46bd-b96c-b9b0969ca00e" original-width="2906" original-height="2026" /][p][b]19:15 CET - [/b]15 minutes in, and it's safe to say [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] have been on top so far! Despite having less of the ball, the Canadians have stunned [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] with their high-intensity approach, getting three shots off already.[/p][image alt="Canada's attacking thirds so far" id="e38e8cc3-ec85-4ffe-b76f-fc3aef2d91bc" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform (photo by REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)" guid="f907d373-5fbb-4b3b-8403-99462a3787aa" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p][b]19:01 CET - We are underway in Houston for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] vs [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] and the Round of 16 is thus always underway at the World Cup![/b][/p][p]As always, you can follow every kick with our live audio commentary via the link above.[/p][image alt="Morocco players pose for a team group photo before the match" id="e8493c69-afed-442d-a76e-f920b7e78a12" credit-line="IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters / Maria Lysaker" guid="186a6c2c-378a-47dc-80ca-eae9d41cb328" original-width="6880" original-height="4522" /][p][b]17:35 CET -[/b] We are now less than 90 minutes from kick-off between [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] in the World Cup's first Round of 16 match in Houston. You can see the starting XIs for that below.[/p][p]Canadian star [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/davies-alphonso/4r3PXV20/"]Alphonso Davies[/a] starts on ⁠the bench as coach ‌Jesse Marsch makes three ‌changes to his team. Centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/de-fougerolles-luc/juAwWhAL/"]Luc De Fougerolles[/a] comes ​in to bolster the defence, ​and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ahmed-ali/zP3uNOEs/"]Ali Ahmed[/a] returns to the starting XI in midfield. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sigur-niko/b3dSZO8C/"]Niko ⁠Sigur[/a] also ​comes into the team as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cornelius-derek/Wvb8v5p5/"]Derek Cornelius[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saliba-nathan/ALAGXH2B/"]Nathan Saliba[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/millar-liam/fLLzagpo/"]Liam Millar[/a] all drop to the bench.[/p][p]Morocco, meanwhile, ‌have made one change as defender [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/halhal-redouane/COmzUDS5/"]Redouane Halhal[/a] comes in for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/riad-chadi/dGshLigA/"]Chadi Riad[/a], who picked up a knee injury in the last-32 game against the Netherlands.[/p][image alt="Starting lineups for Canada vs Morocco" id="be59099a-ab66-41f0-993c-ee782601c6c1" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a3c6aa75-a928-4317-b079-df2b3afcf2a0" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b]15:42 CET - [/b]Morocco head into this evening's clash with Canada as favourites, but they'll need to be wary of Porto midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eustaquio-stephen/Uk00cWLU/"]Stephen Eustaquio[/a], who produced top performances against Qatar and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/south-africa/W2ijYvlr/"]South Africa[/a] and made it into our team of the last round thanks to his late winner against Bafana Bafana.[/p][p]Joining him in that team, which is based on Flashscore's very own ratings system, is the deadly French duo of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mbappe-kylian/Wn6E2SED/"]Kylian Mbappe[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/olise-michael/E5pvwqkK/"]Michael Olise[/a], who will tonight go up against the highest-rated goalkeeper of the last round in Paraguay's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gill-orlando/d6RBYBBD/"]Orlando Gill[/a].[/p][embed guid="104cc4a6-61b2-405e-8f09-0836816fef75" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2073346853161033868" social-type="twitter" /][p][b]13:00 CET - [/b]Hello and welcome to Flashscore's coverage of the 2026 World Cup's round of 16![/p][p]That's right, we're down to the last 16 nations at this year's tournament, and four of them are battling it out for a place in the quarter-finals today.[/p][embed guid="11311609-0360-4d77-8995-dff1a0ff4613" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2073248433268310262" social-type="twitter" /][p]Among the 16 sides are the three host nations, and the first of them to take to the field will be [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a], who will face off with 2022 semi-finalists [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/morocco/IDKYO3R8/"]Morocco[/a] six hours from now.[/p][p]After that, tournament favourites [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/france/QkGeVG1n/"]France[/a] will face a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/paraguay/YaNlqp6j/"]Paraguay[/a] side that are not to be taken lightly following their penalty shootout triumph over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a] in the last round.[/p][p]While you're waiting for all that, catch up on what was a thrilling final day of the first knockout round [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/world-cup-2026-highlights-day-23-argentina-cape-verde-egypt-colombia/Q3DgIuvp/"]with our look at the highlights[/a], and relive how it unfolded [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/news/soccer-fifa-world-cup-2026-day-23-live-updates/OIT032Ft/"]here[/a].[/p]