Kone Starts as France Face Paraguay in World Cup 2026 Round of 16

The World Cup 2026 knockout stage kicks off in Philadelphia tonight with a Round of 16 clash between Paraguay and France. Both managers have released their starting XIs, and there's plenty to unpack. Gustavo Alfaro, fresh off a penalty shootout win over Germany, sticks with Gustavo Velazquez and Omar Alderete at the back. Diego Gomez gets the nod in midfield, tasked with linking play to the attacking duo of Miguel Almiron and Julio Enciso. Alfaro is banking on pace and directness to trouble the French defense. On the other side, Didier Deschamps makes one change from the 3-0 victory over Sweden: Manu Kone comes into the midfield alongside Adrien Rabiot. The front three of Kylian Mbappe, Bradley Barcola, and Ousmane Dembele remain unchanged, with Michael Olise operating just behind them. Paraguay: Hil — Caceres, Velazquez, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso — D. Gomez, Cubas, Galarza, Almiron — Enciso. France: Maignan — Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne — Kone, Rabiot — Dembele, Olise, Barcola — Mbappe. Kickoff is set for 6:00 PM ET. The winner books a quarterfinal spot.