Paraguay starting lineup vs France confirmed for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
La Albirroja will be the heavy underdogs in tonight’s Round of 16 match.
Paraguay take on France in their Round of 16 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 4. The South American side pulled off a massive upset when they beat Germany in the last 32, and will need to conjure something similar to overcome Les Bleus tonight.
La Albirroja qualified as one of the eight best third-placed teams from the group stage, managing one win and one draw from three matches. However, the underdogs stunned Die Mannschaft by beating them 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Gustavo Alfaro celebrated with his family in the stands after Jose Canalo slotted the winning spot kick past Manuel Neuer and into the back of the net. However, the head coach knows that his side will need to perform at an even higher level against a French team that has not dropped a single point in the expanded 48-team edition in North America.
Also Read: Paraguay vs France – All-time head-to-head record
Let’s look at the Paraguay confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against France:
Paraguay (5-4-1): Orlando Gill; Juan Caceres, Gustavo Velazquez, Gustavo Gomez (c), Omar Alderete, Junior Alonso; Diego Gomez, Andres Cubas, Matias Galarza, Miguel Almiron; Julio Enciso.
Substitutes: Roberto Fernandez (gk), Gaston Olveira (gk), Alex Arce, Gabriel Avalos, Damian Bobadilla, Gustavo Caballero, Jose Canale, Fabian Balbuena, Kaku, Alexandro Maidana, Mauricio, Braian Ojeda, Isidro Pitta, Antonio Sanabria, Ramon Sosa.
Thoughts on the lineup
Orlando Gill was the hero for his side in the penalty shootout against Germany and keeps his place between the sticks.
With Sunderland defender Omar Alderete fully recovering from his knee injury, he replaces Jose Canale in the heart of defence along with the experienced Gustavo Gomez and Gustavo Velazquez. Juan Caceres and Junior Alonso start as the wing-backs.
Vancouver Whitecaps’ Andres Cubas starts just in front of the defence, and he is paired with Matias Galarza in the middle of the park. Diego Gomez, who completed his one-match suspension, starts on the left flank. Talismanic attacker Miguel Almiron starts on the right, although he is yet to open his account in this World Cup.
Julio Enciso, who scored in regulation time against Germany, starts up front as the team’s lone striker. He will be key in breaking the French defensive line and will have to make the most of the few chances he will get tonight.
When is Paraguay vs France FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Round of 16 clash is scheduled for Saturday, July 4, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In India, the match will kick off at 2:30 AM IST on July 5.
How to watch Paraguay vs France match in India?
Fans in India can watch live on Zee5 (premium subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.