World Cup 2026 Round of 16: Paraguay vs. France kicks off at midnight

The first knockout match of the 2026 World Cup will see Paraguay take on France in the round of 16. The game is set for the night of July 4–5, with kickoff scheduled for midnight local time. Both sides advanced from the group stage and now face a do‑or‑die clash for a quarterfinal berth. Paraguay will look to pull off a major upset against the reigning runners‑up, while France will aim to live up to their billing as one of the tournament favorites.