Paraguay has already secured its place in the July 4 World Cup quarter-final in Philadelphia, and the only thing left is to learn which side will meet it there. After beating Germany in a penalty shootout earlier in the tournament, Paraguay now waits for the winner of France and Sweden in Match 77.
That later match is why the search is hot today. France and Sweden are set to kick off at 5 p.m. at New York New Jersey Stadium, with the winner moving on to face Paraguay in Match 89, the Philadelphia quarter-final at Lincoln Financial Field. France arrives with nine group-stage points, while Sweden finished with four.
The matchup also narrows what fans can expect from the holiday card in Philadelphia. The fixture is being framed as an Independence Day meeting, but the familiar hope of a USA versus England showdown on the Fourth of July will not be part of it, because neither side is involved in the Philadelphia game.
There is still a small but important gap in the picture: Paraguay knows the date, the city and the venue, but not the opponent. If France handles Sweden, Paraguay will be the next test; if Sweden breaks through, the path changes, but the destination does not. Either way, Match 89 is already set, and tickets for FIFA World Cup Match 89 are still currently available.
