Last Updated on 10/07/2026 by TinHN Editor
Result update — World Cup quarterfinal: France beat Morocco 2-0 to reach the semifinals
Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with a clinical finish, drawing level with Lionel Messi at eight goals in the Golden Boot race. Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead six minutes later, his fifth goal of the tournament. France dominated with 22 shots (9 on target) to Morocco’s 5 (1 on target). France reach a third straight World Cup semifinal, where they’ll face the winner of Spain vs Belgium.
France vs Morocco headlines the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals in a rematch of the 2022 semifinal, where France won 2-0 on their way to the final in Qatar. Four years on, both sides arrive in Boston with a point to prove.
Date & kick-off: Thursday, July 9, 2026 — 4:00 p.m. ET (9:00 p.m. BST / 11:00 p.m. Morocco time)
Venue: Gillette Stadium (“Boston Stadium”), Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Live Match and Scores
France’s road to the quarterfinal
France arrive unbeaten in five matches, having scored 14 goals and conceded just twice. In the Round of 16, Les Bleus edged Paraguay 1-0 through a 69th-minute Kylian Mbappé penalty, awarded after VAR confirmed a foul on substitute Désiré Doué. The goal moved Mbappé level with Lionel Messi at seven goals in the race for the Golden Boot, and marked his 19th World Cup goal overall — second only to Messi in the competition’s history.
Didier Deschamps’ side have been ruthlessly efficient rather than spectacular against low blocks, averaging 20.57 shots, 2.64 goals and 7.29 corners per match according to Opta’s model, with a clean sheet in three of their last five outings. Ousmane Dembélé and Bradley Barcola offer width alongside Mbappé, though France have occasionally struggled to break down deep-lying defences like Paraguay’s.
Morocco’s road to the quarterfinal
Morocco reached the last eight just as convincingly, beating co-hosts Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 through an Azzedine Ounahi brace and a late Soufiane Rahimi strike. That followed a nerve-shredding penalty shootout win over the Netherlands in the Round of 32, after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in ten matches and currently ranked 7th in the world, blending the experienced spine of their 2022 semifinal run — Bounou, Hakimi, Mazraoui, Amrabat — with a sharper, more creative generation. Morocco also boast the tournament’s highest dribble success rate, completing 8.4 of 17.1 attempts per match..
Storylines to watch: France vs Morocco
The tie carries extra weight beyond the scoreline. Ayyoub Bouaddi, Morocco’s 18-year-old midfielder, came through the French youth system before choosing to represent Morocco — a decision now seen as a coup for the Moroccan federation. At the back, centre-back Issa Diop once hoped to be capped by France; he now stands in their way of the semifinals instead.
It’s also the second straight World Cup in which these two nations have met in the knockout stage — a rare rivalry rekindled twice in four years. See how France’s route compares in our full World Cup 2026 bracket guide.
One pre-match detail worth noting: the match will be officiated by a team of Argentine referees — a topic Didier Deschamps addressed directly, saying he has no concerns about the appointment.
Form, injuries and team news
Update, July 9: Ismael Saibari has been officially ruled out with a hamstring injury that failed to heal in time — a significant blow for Morocco. Soufiane Rahimi, who scored the third goal against Canada, is confirmed to start in his place. Morocco otherwise have a full squad to choose from.
France have no fresh fitness concerns after the Paraguay win, and Deschamps is expected to keep faith with the same front line that has carried the goalscoring load through the knockout rounds. Mbappé’s tally puts him firmly in the Golden Boot conversation alongside Messi.
Predicted lineups: France vs Morocco
Morocco (4-2-3-1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Brahim Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi (starting in place of the injured Saibari)
France: Deschamps is expected to stick with the attacking setup that beat Paraguay, with Mbappé leading the line supported by Dembélé, Barcola and Doué.
Battle of the flanks: France’s left vs Morocco’s right
Much of this quarterfinal could be decided out wide, on one specific matchup: France’s left flank against Morocco’s right.
Morocco funnel most of their build-up and chance creation down the right side, where Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz combine with long diagonal balls toward Saibari’s channel. It’s also Morocco’s most productive route to goal — they lead the tournament in dribble success, and much of that comes from this side of the pitch.
France, in turn, have their ultimate weapon on the opposite flank: Kylian Mbappé’s pace down the left. The individual duel adds a personal subplot — Hakimi and Mbappé are close friends and former PSG teammates, and this battle down the flank will be a running theme throughout the match.
- France to press high: With their attacking depth, France are expected to dictate the game from the outset. Mbappé and Dembélé’s ability to break down both flanks will be key to unlocking Morocco’s well-organised low block.
- Morocco to sit deep and counter: Morocco are likely to cede possession, press in mid-block, and look to exploit space in behind France’s high line using pace on the counter.
Match preview: who advances to the semifinals?
Morocco are no soft touch. Their defensive discipline, penalty-shootout pedigree and pace in transition have already troubled bigger names this tournament, and they’ll fancy their chances of making this a low-scoring, physical contest. But France’s knockout experience and squad depth — the same qualities that carried them past a stubborn Paraguay side — should tell in the closing stages.
Opta’s analytics model favours France to progress, with a reference scoreline of 2-1. The model also projects a physical contest with 4-6 yellow cards, tilted slightly toward Morocco, though the likelihood of a red card is considered low.
As predicted, France’s squad depth and knockout experience proved decisive, even as Morocco held firm defensively for long stretches. France advance to face the winner of Belgium vs Spain in the semifinals — see the full World Cup 2026 bracket guide for the complete picture.
How to watch: In the US, France vs Morocco airs on Fox Sports and Telemundo. Check our full guide to watching World Cup 2026 for broadcast options in other countries.
FAQ
When is France vs Morocco at the World Cup 2026?
Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Has France played Morocco at a World Cup before?
Yes — France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semifinal of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, courtesy of goals from Théo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani.
What was the final score of France vs Morocco?
France won 2-0, with goals from Kylian Mbappé (60′) and Ousmane Dembélé (66′).
Who does France play in the semifinals?
France will face the winner of Spain vs Belgium, played July 11.smael Saibari fit for the quarterfinal?