The 2026 World Cup Round of 16 will see high-scoring France and relentless Paraguay face off. France has won all four matches at the tournament with a combined score of 13-2, and their attack is led by Kylian Mbappé and Dembélé. Paraguay, meanwhile, pulled off a major upset, eliminating Germany in the Round of 32 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The key factor in favor of the over-scoring total is the difference in style. France scores an average of 3.3 goals per match on 18.5 shots and 63% possession. Paraguay, by contrast, has only 36% possession and concedes an average of 1.3 goals per game. Furthermore, the Paraguayans don't have the most reliable defense and rarely keep clean sheets against top opponents.
Given France's attacking prowess and Paraguay's defensive woes, as well as the South Americans' ability to score, it's logical to expect the total to exceed 2.5 goals.
