Naim Beneddra

France advanced past Paraguay with a hard-fought 1-0 World Cup victory driven by Kylian Mbappe’s resilience under heavy defensive pressure and a decisive penalty won after Desire Doue’s transformative second-half introduction. Paraguay’s deep, combative approach limited clear chances, but France matched their physicality and capitalized on Diego Gomez’s foul inside the box. Mbappe’s composed finish brought him within one goal of Lionel Messi’s World Cup record as France prepared to face Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Brazil and Morocco drew 1-1 in their World Cup 2026 Group C opener in New Jersey, with Ismael Saibari scoring first before Vinicius Junior equalised. Brazil struggled early while Morocco impressed through Bouaddi’s pressing and Diaz’s creativity. Player ratings highlighted standout performances from Vinicius Junior, Bruno Guimaraes, Bouaddi and Mazraoui, while Casemiro, Igor Thiago and Diop were among those criticised for poor displays.