France has officially announced its starting lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Paraguay, scheduled for July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappé headlines the squad, as expected, after France steamrolled through the group stage with 13 goals scored and just 2 conceded.
The lineup and the matchup
France’s predicted XI reads like a who’s who of European football royalty. Mike Maignan starts in goal, shielded by a defensive line featuring Jules Koundé, William Saliba, and Dayot Upamecano.
The midfield runs through Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot. Out wide, Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola flank Mbappé in what looks like a ruthlessly attacking setup.
Paraguay, meanwhile, arrives as the tournament’s feel-good story. They knocked out Germany via a penalty shootout to advance. The South Americans haven’t reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2010.
