- France have won 5, drawn 0 and lost 0 in their last 5 games
- Paraguay have won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 in their last 5
- France are the strong favourites to win, with the draw priced the same as Paraguay at 59/10
France can overrun Paraguay at Philadelphia Stadium
France enter the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 as the strong 11/50 favourites to defeat Paraguay, with the outsider price for the South Americans an enticing 59/10 and the draw available at the same price.
Les Bleus have been near unstoppable on the international scene in the last year, winning 9 of their 10 matches in all competitions and losing just once.
They should arrive in Philly in confident mood after following up a 4-1 away win over Norway in FIFA World Cup Group I with a 3-0 thumping of Sweden in the knockout phase.
France can play as patiently as any team when required, but Didier Deschamps has found a way to make a side capable of switching to a blitzkrieg in an instant when possession is lost in midfield.
The talent at the top end of the field is staggering, with Kylian Mbappe in scintillating form in the FIFA World Cup with 2 goals in 1 match so far and plenty of bite in transition.
Paraguay can be frustrating opponents
Gustavo Alfaro has drilled Paraguay into a solid, pragmatic low block that can sit in and be solid, looking to frustrate opponents and hit on the break.
Their opening game, a 1-0 win away to Turkey in Group D, showed their stubbornness and they held Australia to a 0-0 draw in the next round before edging Germany on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the knockout stage.
Julio Enciso is their most significant individual threat, having scored 1 goal in 1 match in the FIFA World Cup knockout stage, and can be a threat on the counter.
France should win, but Paraguay are sturdy
Their recent form, particularly in all competitions, shows they are a solid side rather than a particularly spectacular one, winning 5, drawing 1 and losing 4 of their last 10.
France should be winning this one, but Paraguay's structure and set-piece threat could ensure that this knockout tie is not a complete mismatch, although Deschamps' men should have enough quality to finish it off late or on the counter.
So Over 2.5 goals at 57/100 is the selection in the match result market.
