France vs Morocco: Quarter‑Final Showdown at Boston on July 9

Tournament History & Stakes

France and Morocco meet at Boston Stadium on Thursday, 9 July 2026, for a quarter‑final rematch of their 2022 semi‑final. In Qatar four years ago the French side ran out 2‑0 winners, ending Morocco’s remarkable run and setting the stage for a memorable final. Morocco have never beaten France in six prior clashes, but they arrive unbeaten in 34 matches and have reached consecutive quarter‑finals for the first time as an African nation. France have been flawless in knockout action, remaining unbeaten and untied while scoring 14 goals across five victories. The winner will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi‑finals.

Key Team News

France’s fitness picture is mixed. Aurélien Tchouaméni (adductor) has not trained since the win over Paraguay and will miss the match, with Manu Koné occupying the midfield spot. Marcus Thuram (calf) has returned to training and is an available bench option, while Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola and Manu Koné all carry a single yellow card; a second would trigger a semi‑final suspension. Morocco are without Saibari (hamstring) after he scored a spectacular lob against Brazil and converted the decisive penalty versus the Netherlands. Soufiane Rahimi starts up front, but Chadi Riad (knee) is a doubt, opening the door for Redouane Halhal. Four Moroccans—Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Halhal and Bilal El Khannouss—each have a yellow card hanging over them.

Current Form & Scoring

France have been the tournament’s most lethal attacking side, netting three or more goals in each of their first four games. Victories over Senegal (3‑1), Iraq (3‑0), Norway (4‑1) and Sweden (3‑0) were followed by a hard‑fought 1‑0 win against Paraguay, where Mbappé’s penalty sealed the progression. The French have not conceded a goal in knockout play and remain unbeaten throughout the competition. Mbappé leads the tournament with seven goals, one behind Messi and level with Haaland, while Michael Olise tops the assist chart with five, three of them feeding Mbappé. Morocco’s campaign has been a rollercoaster: a 1‑1 draw with Brazil (Saibari’s lob), wins over Scotland and Haiti, then a 1‑1 showdown with the Netherlands that required Issa Diop’s 91st‑minute strike and a 3‑2 penalty shoot‑out victory. A 3‑0 triumph over Canada featured a brace from Ounahi and a late strike from Rahimi, completing the knockout progression. Brahim Díaz’s four assists set an African World Cup record, highlighted by his partnership with Hakimi on the right flank.

Predicted Lineups

• France (4‑2‑3‑1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé.

• Morocco (4‑2‑3‑1): Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi.

How to Watch

The match will be broadcast live across the United Kingdom on ITV1, ITVX and STV, giving fans multiple options to catch the action. Both teams will bring their full squads to Boston, ready for a clash that could reshape the World Cup’s top eight. This encounter also serves as a measuring stick for how far each side has progressed since their historic 2022 semi‑final.