France vs Morocco: World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal | Kickoff Time, Lineups and Prediction

Quick facts

France open the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals against Morocco in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, and this one carries just as much weight. France arrive unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and looking for a record-equalling third straight World Cup semifinal. Morocco arrive on a 34-game unbeaten run and one win away from matching their historic 2022 run to the last four this time as the reigning African champions rather than the surprise package.

France’s Road to the Quarterfinals

France topped Group I with a perfect record, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1. They followed that with a 3-0 win over Sweden in the round of 32, then had to grind past a physical Paraguay side 1-0 in the round of 16, with Kylian Mbappé converting the only goal from the penalty spot. Across the tournament, France have scored 14 goals and conceded just 2 in five matches, and they’ve now won seven straight competitive games.

Didier Deschamps’ side would become only the third nation in World Cup history to reach three consecutive semifinals, joining Germany and Brazil, if they get past Morocco on Thursday.

Morocco’s Road to the Quarterfinals

Morocco’s route has been tougher on paper. They opened with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, then beat Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2 to finish second in Group C. In the round of 32 they needed penalties to see off the Netherlands after a 1-1 draw, before putting in their most complete performance of the tournament — a 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada to reach the quarterfinals.

Morocco have not lost a match since August 2025, a run now standing at 34 games. Under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, they are unbeaten in five matches at this World Cup, with 10 goals scored and only 4 conceded.

Key Players to Watch

• Kylian Mbappé (France): Leads the Golden Boot race with 7 goals and 2 assists this tournament. His 19th career World Cup goal against Paraguay made him only the second player, after Lionel Messi, to score 7+ goals in two separate World Cups.
• Michael Olise (France): Has been directly involved in 8 goals in his last six France appearances (3 goals, 5 assists), and became the first player since Brazil’s Zico in 1978 to record 10+ dribbles, 10+ open-play chances created, and 10+ through balls in a debut World Cup.
• Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Has created 15 chances at this World Cup, the most by an African defender in a single tournament since records began in 1966.
• Brahim Díaz (Morocco): Has 4 assists and has been directly involved in more Morocco goals than any other player across all competitions since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (6 goals, 4 assists).
• Ismael Saibari (Morocco): Scored in all three group games and struck the winning penalty against the Netherlands, but he is ruled out of the quarterfinal with a hamstring injury picked up against Canada. Soufiane Rahimi is expected to start in his place up front.
• Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco): Scored a brace against Canada to end an 11-game scoreless run at major tournaments.

Predicted Lineups

France (4-3-3): Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Rabiot, Tchouaméni; Olise, Dembélé, Doué; Mbappé Watch list: Aurélien Tchouaméni is managing a groin issue that kept him out against Paraguay; William Saliba played through a back knock in the last 16.

Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi Watch list: Saibari is out; Chadi Riad is managing a knee injury from the win over the Netherlands but is expected to start.

Head-to-Head History

Thursday’s game is the seventh all-time meeting between these two nations, but the one that matters most is still the last one: at the 2022 World Cup semifinal in Qatar, goals from Théo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani gave France a 2-0 win at Al Bayt Stadium, ending Morocco’s historic run as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal.

Beyond that game, France have never lost to Morocco four wins and two draws from the six previous meetings. Morocco will see Thursday’s rematch, on a World Cup knockout stage once again, as a chance to settle unfinished business from Qatar. Al Jazeera France vs Morocco quarterfinal preview

Prediction

France go in as clear favorites. Opta’s pre-match simulation model gives them a 62.2% win probability, with Morocco winning outright just 15.7% of the time; bookmaker pricing tells a similar story, with France well odds-on to win inside 90 minutes. France’s attack 14 goals in five games — and a defense that’s conceded only twice give them the tournament’s best combination of firepower and control right now. FIFA.com France v Morocco official match preview

Morocco’s case for the upset rests on Achraf Hakimi’s chance creation from the back, Ounahi’s form, and a defense that has kept the ball out often enough to stay unbeaten for 34 straight games. But losing Saibari, their leading scorer, is a real blow heading into a match this demanding. Expect France to control large spells and be the more likely side to find a breakthrough, with Mbappé the shortest price to score at any point in the match.

Our call: France to win, both teams under 2.5 goals combined.

Conclusion

The France vs Morocco World Cup 2026 quarterfinal is the kind of fixture the last-eight stage is built for: a rematch of a genuine World Cup semifinal, two unbeaten runs on the line, and a Golden Boot race that could swing on what Kylian Mbappé does in Foxborough. France’s team news leans in their favor Aurélien Tchouaméni working his way back and William Saliba fit enough to start while Morocco’s biggest setback is confirmed, with Ismael Saibari ruled out and Soufiane Rahimi stepping into a lineup still built around Achraf Hakimi’s chance creation and Brahim Díaz’s link-up play.

Whichever side wins this France vs Morocco quarterfinal earns a World Cup 2026 semifinal date against the winner of Spain vs Belgium, with a final spot suddenly in view. For neutrals, this quarterfinal preview points to a tight, low-scoring contest rather than a rout: France carry the form, the squad depth and the Opta numbers, but Morocco’s 34-game unbeaten run and their defensive discipline mean this Atlas Lions side is unlikely to fold quietly. Set a reminder for the France vs Morocco kickoff time, check the France vs Morocco lineups once they’re confirmed an hour before kickoff, and check back here this page will be updated with the final score, goal scorers and match highlights as soon as full time is reached.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does France vs Morocco kick off?

France vs Morocco kicks off at 4:00 PM ET / 21:00 GMT on Thursday, July 9, 2026, which is 1:00 AM PKT on Friday, July 10 for viewers in Pakistan.

Where is France vs Morocco being played?

The match is being played at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Where can I watch France vs Morocco?

In the US, the match airs on Telemundo and Peacock. In Pakistan, it streams live on tapmad, with PTV Sports also carrying World Cup 2026 coverage free-to-air.

Is Ismael Saibari playing for Morocco against France?

No. Saibari is ruled out of the quarterfinal with a hamstring injury sustained in the round-of-16 win over Canada. Soufiane Rahimi is expected to start at striker in his place.

Has Morocco ever beaten France?

No. France have never lost to Morocco in six previous meetings, winning four and drawing two, including a 2-0 win in the 2022 World Cup semifinal.

Who is leading the Golden Boot race at the 2026 World Cup?

Kylian Mbappé leads with 7 goals and 2 assists through five matches, ahead of the chasing pack that includes Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Lionel Messi.

What happens if France vs Morocco ends in a draw?

Like all World Cup 2026 knockout matches, a draw after 90 minutes goes to 30 minutes of extra time, followed by a penalty shootout if the teams are still level.

Who does the winner play in the semifinal?

The winner of France vs Morocco advances to face the winner of Spain vs Belgium in the World Cup 2026 semifinal.

Read next on StyleOverloaded:

• World Cup 2026 Quarter Finals Full Schedule, Teams, Predictions & Path to the Final

• 2026 FIFA World Cup: Everything You Need to Know Right Now

Editor’s note: Update this article with the final score, goal scorers, man of the match and highlights link within an hour of full time freshness is one of the strongest ranking signals for Google News/Discover on live sports content, and re-publishing with the result is what usually pushes these pages into the AI Overview for post-match searches too.