Paraguay beat Japan on penalties to move into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday after the match had finished in a goalless stalemate after extra time.
Paraguay are two points ahead of Brazil and Argentina, who play their fourth games on Wednesday.
United States of America secured their passage into the round of 16 riding on substitute Ayo Akinola's 75-minute strike for a 1-0 victory over Ghana in an enthralling Group A game of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in New Delhi.
Brazil missed a string of chances and were left to rue a lack of quality in the final third after they were held 0-0 by Costa Rica.
Brazil pulled off a last-gasp 2-1 away victory over Chile in the South American World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
Paraguay starlet Sergio Diaz is thrilled to be moving to Real Madrid but has yet to find out if he will join the first team squad for pre-season training or play for the club's Castilla reserve side, he told Spanish media. Real have yet to unveil the 18-year-old officially but Marca reported that striker has joined the Spanish giants from Cerro Porteno in a six million euros ($6.64 million) transfer deal to become the first Paraguayan to play for the European champions.
Paraguay coach Gerardo Martino will watch the Copa America final from the stands after he was suspended for two games following a brawl at the end of their semi-final win over Venezuela.
- England's goal in their 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday was confirmed by FIFA on Sunday as an own goal by Paraguay's captain Carlos Gamarra.
Paraguay continued to shine and recorded their third win on the trot when they thrashed a struggling Turkey 3-1 in a Group B match of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Navi Mumbai.
Paraguay will not settle for less than topping Group F ahead of world champions Italy following their victory over Slovakia on Sunday, striker Roque Santa Cruz said.
Paraguay beat a lacklustre Slovakia 2-0 to move top of Group F on Sunday and close in on a World Cup second round place.
Paraguay crossed a World Cup threshold when they beat Japan on 5-3 penalties to reach the quarter-finals for the first time on Tuesday.
Paraguay qualified for the last 16 of the World Cup despite being held to a goalless draw by a well-organised New Zealand in their Group F match on Thursday.
Mali are the runners-up side in the last edition of the U-17 World Cup in 2015 and this time they would be aiming to move one step ahead by clinching the title
Veteran defender Carlos Gamarra headed a second-half goal to give Paraguay a hard-fought win 1-0 in their World Cup qualifier.
Hosts France reached the Olympic men's football semi-finals for the first time in 40 years with a 1-0 win over Argentina thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta's first-half goal in a grudge match in Bordeaux on Friday.
Paraguay scored twice in the first-half to beat toothless Venezuela 2-0 in a football World Cup qualifier and stay top of the South American group. Paraguay, who have qualified for the last three World Cups, are five points clear of Brazil, who host Bolivia, and Argentina, who visit Peru.
Paraguay produced a ruthless performance to beat Chile 3-0 an go top of the South American World Cup qualifying group. They lead the 10-team group with 10 points from four games. Chile are stuck on four points.
Roque Santa Cruz inspired 10-man Paraguay to a 2-0 win over Brazil in their World Cup qualifier.
Substitute Fred struck in a last-minute equaliser to give holders Brazil a 2-2 draw with Paraguay before unfancied Venezuela upset Ecuador 1-0 to go top of Group B at the Copa America on Saturday.
Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez has been banned for five international matches while several other players were also suspended for their involvement in clashes with fans following Uruguay's Copa America loss to Colombia in July, South American soccer's governing body said on Wednesday.
Paraguay rode their luck to hold Venezuela to a goalless draw before prevailing 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out on Wednesday to reach the final of the Copa America for the first time since 1979.
Paraguay claimed their first points in a 2-0 win over debutants Trinidad & Tobago.
Brazil return to winning ways with dreary win over Ecuador in their World Cup qualifiers.
In the semi-finals, Argentina beat Italy 3-0, while Paraguay beat Iraq 3-1.
Young Libertad striker Rodolfo Gamarra was a surprise inclusion in Paraguay's 23-man World Cup squad on Monday.
Brazil shocked and other big upsets at World Cup qualifiers played on Tuesday
India voted in favor of a United Nations General Assembly resolution that called for the withdrawal of Israel from the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, including East Jerusalem, and reiterated the call for achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in West Asia. The resolution, tabled by Senegal, was adopted with 157 nations voting in favor, while eight nations voted against it and seven abstained.
Hosts France secured a second straight victory as Kiliann Sildillia struck for a 1-0 success over Guinea, while Spain and Japan reached the quarter-finals in the second matchday of the men's Olympic soccer tournament on Saturday.
Argentina produced their best performance of the Copa America so far to crush Paraguay 6-1 and set up a classic final against hosts Chile.
Balraj Panwar progressed to the quarter-finals of the men's single sculls rowing competition after finishing second in Repechage 2 at the Paris Olympics on Sunday.
Uruguayan defender Juan Izquierdo collapsed on the pitch after suffering an irregular heartbeat during a Copa Libertadores game last week.
Arsenal moved up to second in the Premier League and within six points of Liverpool after a largely trouble-free, if slightly pedestrian, 1-0 win at home to struggling Ipswich Town on a chilly night in north London on Friday.
Argentina will face Columbia in their Copa America title defence on Sunday, July 14.
Holders Brazil and their Group B rivals breathed life into the Copa America in two six-goal thrillers as they qualified for the quarter-finals with Venezuela and Paraguay on Wednesday.
Paraguay drew 1-1 with Uruguay at the Copa America to go top of Group B, one point ahead of Argentina before the tournament favourites take on eliminated Jamaica later on Saturday.
Brazil had failed to impress at the Copa, drawing twice in the group stage while beating only Paraguay.
Paraguay's Lucas Barrios scored in the 90th minute to give his side a dramatic 2-2 draw against Argentina in the Copa America in Santiago, on Saturday.
