The heat in Philadelphia reached nearly 39 degrees Celsius, turning the stadium into a furnace and testing the stamina of every player on the pitch.
France entered the match with a clear intent to dominate possession, but Paraguay's rugged 5‑4‑1 defensive setup forced the visitors to work hard for any clear chance.
A penalty that changed the game
The decisive moment arrived when a VAR review identified a foul on substitute Desire Doue, leading to a spot‑kick that Kylian Mbappe dispatched with composure.
Aurelien Tchouameni, nursing an injury, was left out of the starting XI and replaced by Manu Kone, a change that added fresh energy to the midfield.
France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan made his first save of the tournament in the 90th minute, while Orlando Gill twice denied Mbappe in stoppage time, keeping Paraguay's hopes alive until the final whistle.
The narrow victory, 1‑0, lifted France into a quarter‑final clash with Morocco, a rematch of their 2018 semi‑final encounter, and marked Mbappe's 19th World Cup goal in as many appearances.