2026 World Cup
Quaterfinal
Thursday
At 11pm
France v Morocco
Morocco will look to continue rewriting World Cup history when they face two-time champions France in a blockbuster quarter-final showdown at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday.
The Atlas Lions arrive at the last eight with confidence and belief after another impressive tournament run, but standing in their way is a star-studded French side determined to avoid another upset against the African nation.
The encounter is a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where France ended Morocco’s fairytale journey with a 2-0 victory. However, this time, Walid Regragui’s side enters the contest with renewed ambition as they aim to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive tournament.
Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals in emphatic fashion, producing a dominant second-half display to defeat co-hosts Canada 3-0. The result extended their unbeaten run to five matches and reinforced their reputation as one of the tournament’s toughest sides.
France, meanwhile, have maintained a perfect record throughout the competition. Les Bleus edged Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, with Kylian Mbappé converting from the penalty spot after substitute Désiré Doué continued to provide a valuable attacking option alongside Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola and Michael Olise.
The match also carries personal significance for France coach Didier Deschamps, who is already a World Cup winner as both a player and coach. The veteran tactician will take charge of his 25th World Cup match, targeting his 20th victory in the competition.
Both teams head into the tie with some injury concerns. Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi faces a late fitness decision on Ismaïl Saibari, who picked up a hamstring problem against Canada, with Sofiane Rahimi ready to step in if required.
France could be without Aurélien Tchouaméni and Marcus Thuram, although Tchouaméni returned to training on Wednesday in a boost for Deschamps.
With a place in the final four at stake, Thursday’s rematch promises another chapter in the growing rivalry between Morocco and France. The winner will advance to the semi-finals, where they will meet either Spain or Belgium.
