Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – France are bracing for furnace-like temperatures when they face Paraguay in Philadelphia in the World Cup's last 16 on Saturday as co-hosts Canada prepare for a daunting date with African giants Morocco in Houston.
Issued on: 04/07/2026 - 09:34
3 min Reading time
With a brutal heatwave roasting swathes of the United States as it celebrates July 4th, Les Bleus take on Paraguay at Lincoln Financial Field against a backdrop of extreme heat warnings.Temperatures in the Pennsylvania metropolis touched 38 degrees Celsius (101 Fahrenheit) on Friday, and the US National Weather Service are warning of more of the same on Saturday when the game kicks off at 5:00pm local time.France coach Didier Deschamps said his team will be prepared for the conditions."It is something we need to take into account, but I think every team has prepared for it. It can have an impact on all the teams," said Deschamps."This will be our fifth game at the tournament and that will have an impact as well, but I am not fixated on the heat."France have the outstanding team of the tournament so far, producing a series of scintillating attacking displays to surge into the last 16, scoring 13 goals in four games.Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro said the South Americans were more concerned by the "storm" of France's multi-pronged attack than the weather."France are like an electrical storm. We need to be aware that the storm is coming and try to be prepared for the lightning bolts," Alfaro said."We are used to the heat, and of course we have to suffer with it. You would never play a World Cup game at 5:00 pm in Paraguay, and if we did we might lose, but it's like when you go to Quito (to play Ecuador), and you have to be ready for the altitude."Paraguay demonstrated in their victory over Germany in the last 32 that they are likely to present a rugged challenge to French hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.Physical battleFrance forward Bradley Barcola is fully expecting the South Americans to bring a physical approach to Saturday's game."It's a team that defends a lot. They're going to dish out a lot of knocks," Barcola said."But they are also a footballing team. We saw that against Germany."
