Paraguay vs France: Can Paraguay Shock France Too?

Predictions

We think France win this one, and we say 2-0.

Here is the thing, Paraguay just knocked mighty Germany out, so they are scared of nobody.

But standing in front of them is France, the favorite to win the whole thing.

So this is David against Goliath, and Paraguay have already shown they can take a giant down.

• Our prediction: France win 2-0.
• Prediction market (Polymarket): France are about 90% to reach the quarterfinals, Paraguay about 10%.

The Big Story of This Game

Just a few days ago, almost nobody thought Paraguay would still be here.

Then they beat Germany, one of the biggest teams in the world, and everything changed.

So now they walk into this game with a smile and nothing to lose.

On the other side is France, one of the best and deepest teams in the whole tournament.

That is the whole story, the fearless underdog against the team everybody fears.

And the best part is Paraguay have already proven they can knock a giant out.

How Did Paraguay Reach the Round of 16?

Paraguay did not have an easy start at all.

First they lost 4-1 to the United States, and it looked like a long tournament ahead.

But then they beat Turkey 1-0 and drew 0-0 with Australia to stay alive.

That was just enough to go through as one of the best 3rd-place teams in Group D.

Then came the night that made the whole world notice them.

They drew 1-1 with Germany, and then their goalkeeper saved penalties to send Germany home.

So this is a team that keeps proving people wrong, and they are very hard to beat.

How Did France Reach the Round of 16?

France, on the other hand, have looked scary from the very first day.

They beat Senegal 3-1, then Iraq 3-0, then won 4-1 away at Norway.

And that gave them a perfect 9 points and first place in Group I.

Then they beat Sweden 3-0 with beautiful, easy goals in the last round.

So France have won every single game and scored a lot of goals doing it.

That is why so many people think they will beat Paraguay without much trouble.

Why Are France the Favorites?

The simple answer is that France have too many great attackers.

Start with their forward Kylian Mbappe, who is so fast that defenders just cannot catch him.

Then there is their winger Ousmane Dembele, who scored 3 goals in one game against Norway.

And up front with them is Marcus Thuram, who is big and strong and very hard to push off the ball when he gets near the goal.

And do not forget their winger Michael Olise, who can dribble past defenders and set up chances for the others.

That is why the betting markets give France about an 86% chance to win in the 90 minutes.

So before the game even starts, this looks like a very hard day for Paraguay.

Why Could This Game Be Tricky for France?

But here is why France should still be nervous.

Paraguay just did this exact thing to Germany, who were also huge favorites.

They defend as a full team, and they stay calm even when a big side keeps attacking them.

Then, the moment they win the ball, their midfielder Miguel Almiron races forward to attack.

They also have their striker Antonio Sanabria, who only needs one small chance to score.

And their goalkeeper is playing brilliantly right now, so France will have to work hard for every goal.

So Paraguay are not here by luck, and any giant who takes them lightly can go home.

Our Call: 2-0 for France

So who wins this David against Goliath game?

We think Paraguay will defend hard and keep it close for a long time.

But over the full 90 minutes, France just have too many great attackers to keep out.

That is why our call is a 2-0 win for France, in a game Paraguay make them fight hard for.

Where and When Is the Match?

The game is on Saturday, July 4, 2026, which is also the Fourth of July.

It is played at Lincoln Financial Field stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

And kickoff is at 5:00 PM Eastern time.

The winner then goes through to the quarterfinals, and the loser is out for good.

You can find all the extra details on the match page.

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