The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals kick off with an absolute blockbuster in Boston, as tournament favourites France collide with Morocco.
It is a rematch of the 2022 semi-final in Qatar with France aiming to reach a third straight final.
France have been widely touted as favourites with Kylian Mbappe scoring seven goals at the apex of their attack full of talent.
Meanwhile, the Atlas Lions have made history yet again, becoming the first-ever African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals. They are no longer the surprise packages or the plucky underdogs of Qatar; Mohamed Ouahbi’s side are unbeaten in this tournament, having already navigated a brutal group containing Brazil before completely dismantling co-hosts Canada 3-0 in the round of 16.
Can they pull off an upset or will France sail on? The winners will face either Belgium or Spain in the last four.
Table of Contents
France team news
There is only one change from veteran coach Didier Deschamps, as Desire Doue comes into the attack in place of his PSG team-mate Bradley Barcola. Mbappe plays his 20th World Cup game and moves level with former goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Aurelien Tchouameni (thigh) and Marcus Thuram (calf) are both named on the bench.
France XI: Mike Maignan, Lucas Digne, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Jules Koundé, Adrien Rabiot, Manu Koné, Désiré Doué, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, Kylian Mbappé
Morocco team news
Ismael Saibari (hamstring) again misses out for Morocco, while Chadi Riad is not yet back from a knee issue. Mohamed Ouahbi has made two changes to the starting XI that faced Canada – Anass Salah-Eddine and Chemsdine Talbi come in for Saibari and Redouane Halhal.
Morocco XI: Yassine Bounou, Anass Salah-Eddine, Noussair Mazraoui, Issa Diop, Achraf Hakimi, Neil El Aynaoui, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Chemsdine Talbi, Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Díaz, Bilal El Khannouss
Where to watch France v Morocco: TV channel, live online streams
Kick-off on Thursday is at 21:00 BST (16:00 ET / 13:00 PT). In the UK, live TV coverage is on ITV1.
Streaming is via ITV’s website and ITVX app, which is available on a vast variety of devices for viewing on the go.
World Cup 2026: France v Morocco stats
- There have been six meetings between these teams, resulting in four wins for France and two draws
- Their semi-final meeting at the finals in 2022 was the first competitive meeting between them, France winning 2-0 through goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani
- Should France advance, they will become the third nation to reach the last four in three successive tournaments, joining Germany (4, from 2002-2014 and 3 from 1982-1990) and Brazil (3, 1994-2002)
- France are on a seven-game winning streak in competitive matches and have been victorious in 11 of their past 12 (D1)
- The last time they won eight such matches consecutively was between September 2002 and June 2004 (14)
- Kylian Mbappe has also contributed two assists and created 12 chances for France at this World Cup, with only Michael Olise (9) providing more than the forward’s eight defensive line-breaking passes for Les Bleus
- Olise is the first player to complete at least 10 dribbles (11), create at least 10 chances in open play (10) and send at least 10 through balls (11) in his debut World Cup since Brazil’s Zico in 1978
- African teams have twice has gone unbeaten in their opening five games at a World Cup, with Morocco responsible on both occasions (2022 and 2026)
- Since the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Brahim Diez has been directly involved in more goals than any other Morocco player across all competitions (6 goals, 4 assists)
- Across the last two World Cup tournaments, Achraf Hakimi has created more chances than any other defender (21)
- Hakimi’s 15 chances created at this year’s competition are the most by an African defender in a single edition on record (since 1966)
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