Kylian Mbappé reports injury after France's victory over Morocco at the World Cup

French forward Kylian Mbappé scored a penalty in the second half, which allowed France to defeat Paraguay 1-0 on Saturday. This victory secured the team's place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, enabling them to overcome the South American opponent in a tense match played under intense heat in Philadelphia.

Match between France and Paraguay

Paraguay put sustained pressure on the French national team for a long time, employing aggressive defense and frequent tackles, which disrupted the rhythm of the twice-championed side. Tension escalated during the game, with both teams engaging in heated verbal exchanges before the breakthrough. A penalty was awarded to France in the 70th minute after a VAR review.

France's captain, Mbappé, calmly took the free-kick from the penalty spot after Diego Gómez was penalized for tripping Désiré Doué. This goal was the only one of the game. Although the Real Madrid forward had several chances to increase the lead near the end of the match, Paraguayan goalkeeper Orlando Gill made a series of impressive saves, keeping the team in contention.

Conditions and Team Reactions

The match took place with an extreme heat warning, as temperatures approached 38 degrees Celsius, physically testing both teams. Hydration breaks were necessary as players battled in difficult conditions. France's coach Didier Deschamps admitted that the weather hindered his team's ability to maintain its usual high tempo.

France has now reached the tournament quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive year and will face Morocco on Thursday for a spot in the final. Deschamps highly praised this tough victory, noting that his players benefited from facing Paraguay, who defeated the four-time German champion in the Round of 16 via penalties.

Other Match of the Day: Morocco vs Canada

In another match of the day, the Moroccan national team achieved a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada, allowing the 'Atlas Lions' to advance to the quarter-finals and once again demonstrate their status as one of the tournament's leading teams.

Azzedine Unahchi scored twice in the second half, deciding the outcome of the tense game after a scoreless first period. Sofiane Rahimi added the third goal in stoppage time, cementing the North African team's win in Houston. Canada started the match confidently and created several early chances, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made key saves, preventing the opponent from scoring and averting a loss.

The breakthrough came five minutes after the restart when a quick free-kick by Achraf Hakimi found Unahchi, who coolly finished the attack in the penalty area. Unahchi scored late again in the match, receiving a pass from former Spanish youth international Brahim Díaz, completing a swift counterattack and making the result undeniable, after which Rahimi added the third goal at the end.

The defeat ended Canada's historic run in the World Cup, as it was the team's first playoff win in the last Group of 32 against South Africa. Now Morocco advances to face France, who eliminated them in the tournament semi-final four years ago in Foxborough.