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France take on Morocco in first 2026 World Cup quarterfinal: Live updates
Morocco will look to upset the odds when they take on a Mbappe-inspired France.
The Athletic Live Team
July 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM EDT
France vs Morocco
France take on Morocco today in a mouthwatering clash as the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals get under way
France, the favourites to win the tournament, are one of only two teams to have won every game so far, while Morocco have already knocked out the Netherlands and co-hosts Canada
The winners of today’s game will face either Spain or Belgium for a place in the final
- Start time: 4pm ET
- Watch: FOX, Fubo (try for free)
- Get involved in the chat here or email live@theathletic.com
The tie of the round
When the quarter-final line-up was confirmed, the one I was looking forward to most was this one
It is a repeat of the semi-final from four years ago, which France won 2-0, and Didier Deschamps’ side have been ruthless in this tournament so far
Ismael Saibari is not fit, which is a blow for the North Africans, but this should be an enthralling match-up either way
For me France are the clear favourites to win the tournament at the moment. They have three of the five best players in the world right now in Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, and no one has looked close to challenging them so far
Get involved!
Some of our readers have already shared their thoughts ahead of today’s game. We want to keep hearing from you!
- Who will progress to the semi-finals?
- Who will get the goals?
- Can either team go all the way?
It’s very easy to send in your views. You can head to the Discuss tab at the top of this feed or click here, or you can send us an email: live@theathletic.com
Morocco fans gather in Boston
Huge crowds of Morocco fans have gathered in Boston ahead of today’s game. Expect a carnival atmosphere ahead of kick-off!
The pursuit of Fontaine’s record
Just Fontaine holds the record for the most goals at a single World Cup with 13, but several high-scoring players at this year’s tournament could beat that mark
One of them, Kylian Mbappe, is in action today
Some of your views on today’s game
Carlo B: “I must admit to being a little disappointed at how many people have talked Morocco up this tournament only to expect them to get thrashed later today. They are good enough to win!”
Ben B: “I have no idea who will win but I am very excited as both teams are much better than in 2022. This should be one of the matches of the tournament.”
Steve G: “Really happy to see Morocco thriving and playing some very good football along the way. Don’t write them off!”
Some of our expert predictions
Simon Hughes: France 2 Morocco 1. Morocco have enough talent to cause France problems but will need to be perfect to beat them. They are decent defensively but I just don’t think they’ll have enough quality in that area to resist a brilliant French attack
Mark Carey: France 3 Morocco 1. Morocco are good, but France are better. Morocco will offer defensive discipline and pose a dangerous counter-attacking threat, but Didier Deschamps’ side have far too much attacking firepower to be stopped. If they play close to their potential, there is only one winner here
Anantaajith Raghuraman: France 2 Morocco 1. Morocco will give France their toughest test yet. For all of their defensive solidity, France can look a little vulnerable out wide and I think Achraf Hakimi could cause Lucas Digne a few problems. They have left big spaces in midfield too, which their opponents thus far have not been able to exploit. That being said, France’s front four are incredible and Kylian Mbappe looks determined to lead them to glory. I back them to win this one but it’ll be hard-fought — just like these two teams’ 2022 meeting.
Morocco have been in fine form throughout this tournament — but not many of you are backing them to come out on top later
According to our Soccer Pick’Em game, a whopping 85 per cent of you are picking France to win. And yes, I am part of that 85 per cent. Although I am currently losing to both a six-year-old child and the dog, so I would not take my word for anything
Click here to make your pick if you have not played yet
Morocco have more layers to their game
Morocco, semi-finalists four years ago, are the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals of two World Cups
This team, though, is very different tactically to the one which knocked out Spain and Portugal in 2022. They had 27 and 23 per cent possession in those matches under Walid Regragui. He’s since been succeeded by Mohamed Ouahbi, who was coaching their youth national teams during the last World Cup. At times they lean into defensive tactics, but there were 51 Moroccans in Europe’s top-five leagues last season, the 12th-most of any nation
Ouahbi is profiting from a golden generation that he has helped develop, and this Morocco team have more layers to their game
A refreshed left side for France
Didier Deschamps has refreshed his left side in the knockout rounds
During the group stage he had Theo Hernandez at left-back, a defensive option, and Desire Doue ahead of him on the wing. Doue, only 21 and at his first World Cup, has such a high ceiling, though his performances here have been a bit below what he’s shown for Paris Saint-Germain, barring a well-placed header to seal a 4-1 win over Norway
Deschamps has switched him for Bradley Barcola to add pace, clearly satisfied that Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe provide enough star quality, and the introduction of Lucas Digne at left-back gave them a crossing threat against Sweden and Paraguay’s back fives
Counter-attacks will prove key
Morocco (10) and France (nine) are the top two sides for fast break shots this tournament, and have three goals each from those situations, which Opta define as a chance created following a regain in a team’s own half and a fast attack upfield
France scored from these situations when 1-0 up against Sweden (round of 32), Norway (groups) and Senegal (groups). With Mbappe, Dembele and especially the speedy Barcola, there is pace up top and they have great passers from deeper to find those runners. It’s why they retreat into a 4-4-2 block sometimes too, enticing opponents onto them so that there is space to break into
The same can be said for Morocco. Watch out for how both teams keep possession, where they take risks and how they position players behind the ball to protect against the other’s counter-attacking threats
Morocco must get Brahim on the ball
Brahim Diaz is undoubtedly Morocco’s main man. Remember the guy who tried a Panenka penalty to win the AFCON final on home soil earlier this year? And missed it? Well he’s enjoying some redemption here
Diaz is diminutive, a creative left-footer who is more of a No 10 from the right, coming narrow to allow full-back Hakimi to push on. Brahim made two goals in the win over Canada, and split the Scotland defence with a through ball for Saibari to score the only goal in their second match
Why Olise is a crucial cog for France
Kylian Mbappe’s goals are invaluable, but the importance of Michael Olise to this freewheeling France team cannot be understated
The Bayern Munich midfielder has made five assists this World Cup. His 11 through balls are a tournament high too, and are perfect for Mbappe’s runs in behind
A return to Boston for both sides
This will be the seventh and final game played at Boston Stadium during this World Cup and, for both teams, it will represent a homecoming of sorts
France won their final group game here, a 4-1 hammering of Norway notable for Ousmane Dembele’s hat-trick
The home of the New England Patriots was also the scene of Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland in the group stage
Argentine officials for this one
FIFA have appointed Facundo Telloas referee for today’s game, with Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade as assistant referees. Dario Herrera will be the fourth official, with Christian Navarro the reserve assistant referee
The appointment of Argentine officials has been met with incredulity in some quarters, given the rivalry between Argentina and France and the possibility of the two nations meeting in a second successive World Cup final
Deschamps not underestimating Morocco
France head coach Didier Deschamps has been watching Morocco’s World Cup run closely and had nothing but praise for his side’s quarter-final opponents
He said:“They are a very, very strong side. No one reaches the World Cup quarter-finals by pure chance, and this is proof that they possess a lot of quality and potential.”
Can Mbappe overtake Messi?
It is a question that applies to this tournament and to the overall World Cup record books
France captainKylian Mbappe is one of only two players to score seven or more goals at two separate World Cups. The other, inevitably, is LionelMessi
Messi has eight goals at this tournament, while Mbappe and Erling Haaland have seven. Harry Kane is just behind them on six
Another intriguing subplot is that Messi and Mbappe have both overtaken Miroslav Klose’s record for goals at World Cup finals during this tournament. Messi has 21, but Mbappe is hot on his heels with 19
France have the ability to win any kind of contest
In a sense, we learned more from France’s tight 1-0 win over Paraguay than from any of the comfortable victories that preceded it
The great teams find a way to win whatever kind of contest they are dragged into, and so it proved during a spectacularly ill-tempered round-of-16 clash
In Kylian Mbappe’s words:
“We showed that we are not only a team who plays flashy attacking football,” Mbappe said afterwards. “If we have to put our hands in the s***, we will put our hands in the s***
“They thought we’d show up in tuxedos, make some fancy moves, but football’s not just that. We did it today. We were better than them.”
France favourites to go all the way
France will believe they can reach a third successive World Cup final and are currently favourites to regain the trophy they won in 2018
Adam Crafton has written about how one team has looked a cut above the rest at this tournament. Read it here
GO FURTHER
In a World Cup of chaos, France look unstoppable
Will France be affected by the Paraguay match?
Having waltzed through every previous test at this World Cup, most expected a similar story when France took on Paraguay in the round of 16. Instead, we got something very different
Paraguay clearly realised they had little chance if they tried to take France on at football, so resorted to every trick in the book in an attempt to get a result — most of which went unspotted by the officials. How they failed to receive a single yellow card remains one of the mysteries of the tournament
