N'Golo Kanté remains unused as France heads into Paraguay knockout

France’s reserve squad posted a 9‑4 win in a training match, with midfielder N'Golo Kanté scoring a goal. Despite the performance, Kanté has not featured in any World Cup 2026 minutes and is not in the starting line‑up for the upcoming round‑of‑16 clash with Paraguay.

Coach Didier Deschamps has kept Kanté on the bench, opting for Manu Koné and other midfielders. Reports say Kanté is dealing with knee pain that caused him to miss recent training sessions, leaving his participation against Paraguay uncertain.