France and Morocco will face off in the first World Cup 2026 quarter-final on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Boston Stadium. The match kicks off at 9pm BST and is a rematch of their 2022 semi-final in Qatar, which France won 2-0.
France's Path to the Quarter-Finals
Les Bleus have been the standout team at the expanded 48-team tournament, winning all three Group I matches against Switzerland, Cameroon, and New Zealand. In the round of 32, they comfortably defeated Sweden 3-1. The last-16 tie against Paraguay proved more challenging, but Kylian Mbappe scored from the penalty spot to secure a 1-0 victory and set up the rematch with Morocco.
Morocco's Journey
Morocco became the first team to reach the quarter-finals after a convincing 3-0 win over co-hosts Canada in the last-16. Goals from Ismael Saibari, Brahim Diaz, and Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory. Following Egypt's controversial elimination by Argentina, Morocco are Africa's sole representatives in North America and aim to reach back-to-back World Cup semi-finals.
Where to Watch France vs Morocco
In the UK, the match will be broadcast live on ITV1, with coverage starting at 8pm BST. UK viewers can also stream the game via the ITVX app or ITV website. Standard Sport will provide a live blog on matchday, and free highlights will be available on FIFA's official YouTube channel, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and their respective websites.
Team News
France manager Didier Deschamps will make a late decision on Aurelien Tchouameni, who missed the last-16 win over Paraguay with a thigh injury. If fit, the Real Madrid midfielder could replace Manu Kone. Alternatively, Desire Doue, who impressed off the bench against Paraguay, might start in place of Bradley Barcola, a transfer target for Arsenal and Liverpool.
Morocco are concerned about top scorer Ismael Saibari, who was forced off with a muscular injury in the first half against Canada. Reports suggest the injury is not as serious as initially feared, but his fitness for the France match remains uncertain. Soufiane Rahimi, who scored as a substitute against Canada, could start if Saibari is unavailable.
Head-to-Head Record
France and Morocco have met six times previously, with France winning four matches, Morocco one, and one draw. The most recent encounter was the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which France won 2-0. Morocco's only victory came in a friendly in 1998.
Prediction
This is arguably France's toughest test in the tournament so far. Morocco are technically unbeaten in their last 34 matches across all competitions. However, the last team to beat Morocco at a World Cup was France in 2022, and history is expected to repeat itself. Prediction: France wins 2-0.
Odds
According to UK betting sites, France to qualify is priced at 2/9, while Morocco to qualify is 31/10. Odds are subject to change. Gambling can be addictive; please play responsibly and only bet what you can afford to lose.
