There was play-acting, time-wasting, outright cheating. But there was also defensive commitment and a resolve to see the game plan through

The referee who officiated France's last-16 victory over Paraguay has come in for fierce criticism from sections of the French media. Ilgiz Tantashev, 42, from Uzbekistan, was judged to have lost control of the fiery encounter,

France advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 on Saturday at

Kylian Mbappe scored the decisive penalty as France national football team beat Paraguay national football team 1-0 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. The match ended in controversy after Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill threw the ball at Mbappe following an apparent handshake snub.

World Cup 2026 latest score, match stream, goal updates and fan reaction - Les Bleus facing ginat killers with quarter-final spot up for grabs

The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 continues with two fascinating knockout clashes as four nations battle for a place in the quarter-finals. The day begins with co-host Canada aiming to extend its dream run against African powerhouse Morocco,