The Paraguay national team will face France in the 2026 World Cup round of 16. The match is scheduled for next Saturday, July 4th at 18:00 (Paraguay time) at the Philadelphia Stadium.
The main referee appointed for this match is Ilgiz Tantashev, from Uzbekistan, who will be accompanied by his compatriots Andrey Tsapenko and Timur Gaynullin.
Background of the main referee
Tantashev already has experience in the current edition of the World Cup, where he refereed two group stage matches. His first appearance was in the second round of Group C, in Morocco's 1-0 win over Scotland.
The refereeing team
Pending the nomination of the VAR officials, the team of authorities for the match between South Americans and Europeans is completed with the presence of Qatari federation judges in support roles. The official composition is as follows:
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Main Referee | Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan) |
| Assistant 1 | Andrey Tsapenko (Uzbekistan) |
| Assistant 2 | Timur Gaynullin (Uzbekistan) |
| Fourth Official | Abdulrahman Al-Jassim (Qatar) |
| Fifth Official | Taleb Al-Marri (Qatar) |
The Paraguay national team seeks to secure its qualification for the quarterfinals of the global tournament. Last result: Mexico 1-2 Paraguay (2025-11-19). Recent form: 2W-0D-3L (WWLLL).
