France have been scintillating at this World Cup – but they will now do battle with a Paraguay side that has already shown their giant-killing credentials.
Paraguay eliminated Germany on penalties in the round of 32 to set up this clash at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, July 4 – a rather sentimental venue for 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence being signed in the city.
France have been in inspired form at this tournament, though, and produced their most convincing display yet as they made short work of Sweden in the last round.
Officials confirmed for Paraguay vs France
The winners of this game will go through to the quarter-finals to face the winners of Canada vs Morocco, which will have already ended by the time this one kicks off.
The winners of that game will then go on to face one of Portugal, Spain, the United States or Belgium.
The referee for Paraguay vs France will be Uzbekistan’s Ilgiz Tantashev.
The 42 year old is refereeing his first World Cup, having previously worked at the Asian Cup and the 2024 Summer Olympics, where he was appointed as one of the officials for the semi-finals but had to be replaced after colliding with Spain’s Marc Pubill.
This is Tantashev’s third game of the World Cup after he also oversaw Scotland’s 1-0 defeat to Morocco and Algeria’s 3-3 draw with Austria.
Scotland felt aggrieved not to have been given a penalty against Morocco in the group stage, with ITV’s referee analyst Christina Unkel commented that Tantashev ‘is known for having more of a higher level of physical contact needed’ to give a foul.
Assistant Tantashev as linesmen are two of his countrymen, Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin.
The fourth official is Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Jassim, with his compatriot Taleb Al-Marri on hand as the reserve official.
Chilean Juan Lara will meanwhile be at the head of the VAR booth.
Assisting him are Italian Marco Di Bello and American Joe Dickerson.