Mbappé is hot for France. The World Cup game against Paraguay is going to be a scorcher in Philly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — For the complainers that hydration breaks have watered down the pace of play at the World Cup, consider the steamy, sticky, downright miserable heatwave colliding with the France-Paraguay knockout game Saturday.

With temperatures expected to nudge past 100 degrees F (38 C) at the 5 p.m. kickoff, maybe FIFA should instead consider adding multiple hydration breaks in each half.

It's going to be hot in Philly.

Even in the summer, the closest the city usually gets to 100 is on the radar gun when Phillies baseball closer Jhoan Duran takes the mound.

Not this July, when AC — air conditioning — has been more a must than a traditional trip outdoors down to the shore.

Philadelphia was set to celebrate the country's 250th birthday on July 4 weekend with a stacked calendar but, instead, events ranging from a Queen Latifah concert to a Semiquincentennial parade were canceled and a Liberty Medal ceremony honoring Pope Leo XIV was moved indoors.

On Saturday, Kylian Mbappé of France will go from one of the hottest players in the World Cup — in production — to one of the hottest players in the tournament — in core temperature.

And the players say?

So what.

These are professional athletes at the highest level with the ultimate prize in their sport at stake and even soccer players — who never met an offside call they won't bellyache over — aren't making much of a fuss about the sunny skies and the sultry Saturday expected at Lincoln Financial Field.

“We will both experience the same conditions,” France midfielder Désiré Doué said Friday.

As for Paraguay and coach Gustavo Alfaro: “The heat will affect both teams.”

So scratch the heat as a disadvantage for either team.

The true test for Paraguay will be trying to slow Mbappé as he tries to lead France to a third straight World Cup final.

Thriving on a hot, humid afternoon, Mbappé scored his 17th and 18th career World Cup goals in a 3-0 rout of Sweden, moving one back of Lionel Messi’s record of 19. With six in the tournament, Mbappé tied the Argentina star in the race for the Golden Boot.

Asked as he came off the field when temperatures hit (only) 90 degrees (33 C) if he was already looking forward to facing Paraguay, Mbappé quipped, “I’m looking forward to the changing room and the AC."

Messi resumed his chase of the Golden Boot on Friday when defending champion Argentina took on Cape Verde.

Paraguay has little reason to complain and is just happy to play in the knockout round.

When Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties Monday to earn the biggest upset of this World Cup it was a major triumph for the landlocked South American country of 7 million people that’s surrounded by soccer giants like Argentina and Brazil.

“It’s one of those things that can happen in the life of the team,” Alfaro said. "We want Paraguay to have many more afternoons like that one.”

The upset still hasn't changed the tenor — or the betting line — around the France clash. Paraguay has absolutely no burden of expectations going into the round of 32 match.

"This is why we have a public holiday in Paraguay after the win," Alfaro said.

Toppling France would stand as an even greater sports miracle.

Les Bleus are 4-0 in the tournament, outscoring opponents 13-2. One of those wins came already in Philadelphia when Mbappé scored twice and France played through the tournament’s first rain delay to beat Iraq 3-0.

France has overtaken Argentina for No. 1 in FIFA’s rankings. Its four wins have come against teams currently ranked 18th (Senegal), 63rd (Iraq), 21st (Norway) and 37th (Sweden).

Paraguay is 34th. Potential quarterfinal opponents include Morocco (sixth) and Canada (30th). Spain (No. 3) looms as a semifinal opponent.

Tougher opposition, for sure.

Tougher elements, probably not.

All fans will be allowed to bring one, soft, plastic, 20-ounce factory-sealed disposable water bottle into the stadium (or any World Cup 2026 match in the U.S. and Canada). Water fountains are available in nine sections on the concourse at the Linc.

Here's a travel tip, stay hydrated.

Philly is leaning all in on putting on a show for its final World Cup game after hosting five group stage games.

Grammy Award winners and Philadelphia's own DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Roots are performing. The U.S. national anthem will be performed by Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, who voiced Elsa in “Frozen.”

Any chance Menzel could bring some luck and shift the weather?

The cold never bothered Mbappé anyway.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Paraguay's Gustavo Gomez celebrates after winning the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Monday, June 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) gestures during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith)

France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

France's Kylian Mbappe applauds the fans at the end of the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Hossam Abdelmaguid scored the deciding goal in a shootout, and Egypt won its debut in the World Cup knockout round by beating Australia 4-2 on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw Friday.

Australia goalkeeper Mathew Ryan didn't stop any of Egypt's four shots after replacing starter Patrick Beach late in extra time.

The victory comes in Egypt's fourth World Cup. Australia is now 0-3 in the knockout round.

Egypt will next face either defending champion Argentina or Cape Verde in the round of 16 on Tuesday in Atlanta.

Harry Souttar opened the shootout by missing high for Australia, and 18-year-old Lucas Herrington hit the crossbar with the fourth attempt to set up Abdelmaguid’s clincher.

Egypt’s other penalty shootout scorers were Mahmoud Saber, Ramy Rabia and Mohamed Salah, the former Liverpool star who started despite a hamstring injury sustained in the team's group finale.

Jackson Irvine and Awer Mabil scored in the shootout for Australia.

Emam Ashour gave Egypt the lead in regulation by scoring in the 13th minute with a header that beat Beach just inside the near post. Australia evened the match in the 55th when Egypt defender Mohamed Hany became the first player to score two own-goals in the same World Cup.

The own-goal came when Aiden O’Neill took a free kick from left of the penalty area and Hany headed the ball past goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir for a spot in World Cup infamy. His other own-goal came in a 1-1 draw with Belgium in the group stage.

Less than 10 minutes earlier, Hany was down near the same spot after colliding with Connor Metcalfe on the Australia midfielder’s header attempt. Medical personnel tended to Hany with a stretcher waiting nearby, but he was helped up and stayed on after what appeared to be a concussion check.

Australia’s only scoring in World Cup knockout rounds has been two own-goals. The Socceroos lost to Italy 1-0 in 2006 and lost to Argentina 2-1 four years ago in Qatar. The goal against Argentina was an own-goal.

Omar Marmoush had a great chance to give Egypt a two-goal lead in the opening seconds of the second half, but he sent a shot wide.

The late goalkeeper switch to the 34-year-old Ryan, for his 105th international appearance, came despite several strong saves from the 22-year-old Beach, who was playing in only his sixth game for the Socceroos.

Beach made a sprawling save on a header from Rabia in the waning moments of regulation, and seconds later had a much easier stop on Salah’s shot.

Egypt had one more chance before the end of regulation, but Haissem Hassan was turned away by Souttar, who deflected the shot with his knee.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Egypt's Mohamed Salah reacts after scoring during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Egypt's Hossam Abdelmaguid (4) celebrates after scoring the winning penalty during World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

Australia's Harry Souttar reacts after misses a penalty during a shootout at the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Sam Hodde)

Egypt players react during a penalty shootout against Australia for the World Cup round of 32 soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Egypt's Mohamed Hany scores an own goal with a header during a World Cup round of 32 soccer match against Australia in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Egypt's Trezeguet (7) reacts after a miss during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Egypt's Emam Ashour (8) celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during a World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026 (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Australia goalkeeper Patrick Beach (18) punches the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)

Egypt's Mohamed Hany (3) and Australia's Connor Metcalfe (8) fight for the ball during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between Australia and Egypt in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jessica Tobias)