Only Paraguay, among all the teams that finished third in their FIFA World Cup group, are still in the tournament. The South American side pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the competition by eliminating Germany. In the Round of 16, they now face another European powerhouse – France. What are the best betting picks for this match?
- France have scored 13 goals at the FIFA World Cup so far
- Tchouameni and Thuram will miss the match due to injuries
- Paraguay have scored just three goals in four matches
Paraguay vs France Predictions
The key to Paraguay's success against Germany was their rock-solid defense and committed, selfless performance. They are unlikely to change their tactical approach against an attack-minded French side.
Our prediction: Over 8.5 corners at odds of 1.50 (-200).
France are expected to dominate possession and launch wave after wave of attacks, which should result in plenty of corner kicks. There were as many as 14 corners during regular time in Paraguay's match against Germany.
| Date and timeKick-off: | Saturday, July 4, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM ET (USA) / 10:00 PM BST |
| Broadcast | Check on FIFA official site |
| Odds on Paraguay to win | 17.00 (1600) |
| Odds on France to win |
1.20 (-500) |
Paraguay vs France Betting Odds
France are overwhelming favorites to win this match. Odds for a French victory are around 1.20 (-500). Backing Paraguay to pull off another upset could return odds as high as 17.00 (1600), while the draw is priced at approximately 7.20 (620). It is also worth checking the Both Teams To Score (BTTS) betting markets.
- Check out our other soccer predictions
Predicted Lineups
According to media reports, Aurélien Tchouaméni will miss the match against Paraguay due to a thigh injury. France head coach Didier Deschamps also confirmed that Marcus Thuram has left the squad, although he had played only a limited role at this World Cup.
- Paraguay: Gill – Cáceres, G. Gómez, Canale, Alonso – Almirón, D. Gómez, Cubas, Galarza – Ávalos, Enciso
- France: Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne – Koné, Rabiot, Dembélé, Olise, Barcola – Mbappé
Recent Results
Although Paraguay have won only one match in regular time – against Türkiye – they have still reached the Round of 16. They began the tournament with a heavy 4-1 defeat to the United States. In their final group-stage match, they played out a goalless draw with Australia before defeating Germany after extra time and a penalty shootout in the Round of 32. France, meanwhile, have gone from strength to strength, recording convincing victories over Sweden, Norway, and Iraq.
Paraguay – Last Matches
29.06.2026 – Germany 1:1 Paraguay (Paraguay won on penalties) (FIFA World Cup)
26.06.2026 – Paraguay 0:0 Australia (FIFA World Cup)
20.06.2026 – Türkiye 0:1 Paraguay (FIFA World Cup)
13.06.2026 – United States 4:1 Paraguay (FIFA World Cup)
06.06.2026 – Paraguay 4:0 Nicaragua (Friendly)
France – Last Matches
30.06.2026 – France 3:0 Sweden (FIFA World Cup
26.06.2026 – Norway 1:4 France (FIFA World Cup)
22.06.2026 – France 3:0 Iraq (FIFA World Cup)
16.06.2026 – France 3:1 Senegal (FIFA World Cup)
08.06.2026 – France 3:1 Northern Ireland (Friendly)
Paraguay vs France at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Preview
Saturday's clash will feature two teams with completely contrasting styles. Paraguay are built on defensive discipline, while France thrive on relentless attacking football and have been scoring goals for fun throughout the tournament. At this stage of the competition, it is difficult to imagine anyone stopping Les Bleus. On paper, they have the strongest squad in the tournament, and Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembélé are all in outstanding form.
Broadcast Information
Paraguay take on France on Saturday, July 4, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM ET (USA) / 10:00 PM BST. Broadcast availability depends on your country. You can find the official list of broadcasters on the FIFA website. The match will be refereed by Ilgiz Tantashev of Uzbekistan.