France vs Morocco: World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal Preview, Prediction and Team News
France vs Morocco opens the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with kickoff at 4:00 PM ET (8:00 PM GMT).
It is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, which France won 2-0 in Qatar. Les Bleus, ranked No. 1 by FIFA, arrive with five wins from five matches, while the Atlas Lions are the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarterfinals.
The winner faces Spain or Belgium in the semifinals.
France vs Morocco Match Details
| Match | France vs Morocco, Quarterfinal 1 |
| Date | Thursday, July 9, 2026 |
| Kickoff time | 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT / 8:00 PM GMT / 9:00 PM BST |
| Venue | Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| TV channel (USA) | FOX (English), Telemundo (Spanish) |
| TV channel (UK) | ITV1 |
| Live stream | FOX One, FOX Sports app, Peacock (Spanish) |
How France and Morocco Reached the Quarterfinals
France topped Group I with nine points, beating Norway 4-1 (an Ousmane Dembele first-half hat-trick), Senegal and Iraq. In the knockout stage, Didier Deschamps’ side thrashed Sweden 3-0 before edging Paraguay 1-0 through a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
France has scored 14 goals and conceded just two in five matches. Mbappe tops the team with seven goals and two assists in the Golden Boot race with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland, while Michael Olise’s five assists sit one short of Pele’s single-tournament record from 1970.
Morocco finished second in Group C after beating Scotland and Haiti and drawing 1-1 with Brazil. Mohamed Ouahbi’s side then knocked out the Netherlands on penalties in the Round of 32 and beat co-host Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice. Morocco has conceded only three goals all tournament.
France vs Morocco Team News and Injuries
France: Aurelien Tchouameni (thigh) has not returned to full training and is unlikely to start, so Manu Kone continues alongside Adrien Rabiot in midfield. Marcus Thuram (calf) returns to the squad. Olise, Kone and Bradley Barcola are all one yellow card from missing a potential semifinal after FIFA rejected France’s appeal of Olise’s booking.
Morocco: Top scorer Ismael Saibari (three goals) is ruled out with a hamstring strain; coach Ouahbi confirmed the match comes too early, though he may return later in the tournament. Soufiane Rahimi starts up front. Center-back Chadi Riad is recovered and expected to partner Issa Diop. Captain Achraf Hakimi, Diop and Bilal El Khannouss are each one booking from a semifinal ban.
Predicted Lineups
France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi
Tactical Analysis: Where France vs Morocco Will Be Decided
Both teams average around 60 percent possession, so one side must play without the ball, and that may suit France.
Les Bleus lead the World Cup with 18 direct attacks (Opta) and thrive in transition through Mbappe, Dembele and Olise. Morocco’s double pivot of Neil El Aynaoui and Ayyoub Bouaddi has smothered opponents and launched counters through Ounahi and Brahim Diaz, who has four assists.
With Tchouameni likely absent, Kone and Rabiot must screen those breaks. The duel between former Paris Saint-Germain teammates Hakimi and Mbappe on France’s left could decide the tie.
France vs Morocco Head-to-Head and 2022 Rematch
The two nations have met six times in official matches since 1988. France has won four, with two draws; Morocco’s only success came on penalties after a 2-2 draw at the 1998 King Hassan II Tournament.
Their lone World Cup meeting was the 2022 semifinal, where goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani sent France through 2-0. Morocco arrives at this rematch healthier and more experienced than in Qatar.
France vs Morocco Prediction
France should win, but not comfortably. Morocco’s midfield energy and counterattacking speed make the Atlas Lions France’s toughest opponent yet, and their knockout resilience is proven.
Saibari’s absence blunts Morocco’s edge in the final third, however, and France’s attacking depth should prove decisive over 90 minutes.
Prediction: France 2-1 Morocco
France vs Morocco FAQ
What time is France vs Morocco kickoff?
Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET (8:00 PM GMT) on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
What channel is France vs Morocco on?
FOX (English) and Telemundo (Spanish) in the USA, with streaming on FOX One and the FOX Sports app. UK viewers can watch on ITV1.
Is France vs Morocco a 2022 World Cup rematch?
Yes. France beat Morocco 2-0 in the 2022 semifinal in Qatar.
Who is injured for France vs Morocco?
Morocco’s top scorer Ismael Saibari (hamstring) is out. France’s Aurelien Tchouameni (thigh) is unlikely to start, while Marcus Thuram returns to the squad.
Who does the France vs Morocco winner play in the semifinals?
The winner of Spain vs Belgium, on Tuesday, July 14.
How many goals has Kylian Mbappe scored at World Cup 2026?
Seven goals with two assists, placing him in the Golden Boot race with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland.
Has Morocco ever beaten France?
Morocco’s only win in six official meetings came on penalties in 1998. Morocco has never beaten France in 90 minutes.
Why is Morocco’s run historic?
Morocco is the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals at two consecutive World Cups.
France vs Morocco is the standout World Cup 2026 quarterfinal: the tournament’s most complete attacking team against its most resilient underdog.
France’s firepower makes Les Bleus the favorite, but Morocco has already held Brazil and eliminated the Netherlands and Canada.
Expect a tight, tactical contest in Foxborough, with France reaching the semifinals. Kickoff is 4:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 9.
Follow every result and the road to the final on our World Cup 2026 quarterfinal bracket.
