Four years ago, France ended Morocco's historic journey in the Qatar 2022 semi-final. Now, on July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the Atlas Lions get their chance for revenge, and their chance to go one step further than any African nation has ever gone at a World Cup.
Match Details
| Competition | FIFA World Cup 2026, Quarter-Final (Match 97) |
| Date | Thursday, July 9, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM UK / 10:00 PM Morocco |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts |
| Capacity | 65,878 |
How to Watch Morocco vs France
- 🇺🇸 USA (English): Fox
- 🇺🇸 USA (Spanish): Telemundo, Peacock
- 🇬🇧 UK: ITV1
- 🇲🇦 Morocco: SNRT (free-to-air)
- 🇫🇷 France: TF1
- Global: FIFA+
The Stage: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough
Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, seats around 65,878 fans and has already hosted several matches during the 2026 World Cup. Morocco know this ground; they beat Scotland here in Matchday 2 of the group stage in a hard-fought battle. France also have history at this venue, beating Norway 4-1 to secure top spot in Group I, though Norway rested most of their key players for that match. A sellout crowd is expected for what is one of the most anticipated quarter-finals in recent World Cup history.
Morocco: Form, Path & Key Players
Morocco's road to the quarter-finals has been the most dramatic of any team remaining in the tournament:
- Brazil 1-1 Morocco: Saibari opened with a stunning chip over Alisson before Vinícius Jr equalised
- Morocco 1-0 Scotland: Saibari struck after just 71 seconds, the fastest goal of the tournament
- Morocco 4-2 Haiti: a statement comeback after trailing twice
- R32: Morocco 1-1 Netherlands (3-2 pens): Issa Diop headed home a dramatic equaliser in the first minute of stoppage time, before goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made the crucial save to block the Netherlands' fourth penalty from Crysencio Summerville, with Ismael Saibari blasting home the winning spot-kick
- R16: Morocco 3-0 Canada: Ounahi brace, Rahimi third a dominant second-half performance
Saibari Injury Crisis
The defining story heading into this quarter-final is the fitness of Ismael Saibari, Morocco's World Cup standout, who was forced off just 22 minutes into the Canada match after appearing to suffer a hamstring strain, leaving the field in visible distress. MRI results are expected to determine whether he will be fit to play against France. The 25-year-old, who recently signed for Bayern Munich for a reported fee of around $63 million, has scored three goals at this tournament and scored the winning penalty against the Netherlands. His absence would be enormous.Players to watch:
- Achraf Hakimi (PSG): the tournament's most complete fullback; 2 assists in the Canada win alone
- Azzedine Ounahi (Girona): two goals against Canada, a brace that announced him as a genuine match-winner at this level
- Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid): set a new African record with his fourth World Cup assist against Canada; the creative heartbeat
- Yassine Bounou: the penalty shootout hero against the Netherlands; one of the best goalkeepers in the tournament
- Soufiane Rahimi: scored the third against Canada as Saibari's replacement; may be thrust into a starting role vs France
🇫🇷 France: Form, Path & Key Players
France have been the most dangerous team on attack so far in the competition, boasting a total of 14 goals across their five matches. They have won every single game, conceded barely anything, and look a level above everyone else in the tournament:
- France 3-1 Senegal: Mbappe brace in the opener in New York
- France 3-0 Iraq: two more Mbappe goals in Philadelphia
- France 4-1 Norway: Ousmane Dembélé struck a first-half hat-trick, the first at a World Cup since 1994
- R32: France 3-0 Sweden: Mbappe double, Barcola goal; a performance Sky Sports called "impossible to overlook"
- R16: France 1-0 Paraguay: breaking through in the 70th minute when Kylian Mbappe converted from the penalty spot after a VAR review overturned a missed foul on Désiré Doué
France has now scored at least 3 goals in each of its last 5 World Cup matches, the longest such streak in the history of the competition.
Players to watch:
- Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid): seven goals in the tournament so far, combining with Ousmane Dembélé to create a dangerous duo. Mbappé leads the chase for the adidas Golden Boot. He has scored 10 career goals in the World Cup knockout stages alone, the most of any player in history.
- Ousmane Dembélé (PSG): winner of the 2025 Ballon d'Or after an inspirational PSG Champions League campaign; four goals and four assists at this tournament
- Michael Olise (Bayern Munich): leads the assists charts with five at this World Cup; only the great Pelé (6 in 1970) has ever recorded more assists in a single edition since 1966
- Bradley Barcola (PSG): electric in behind, two goals from the left
- William Saliba (Arsenal): the defensive anchor, France have been near-impenetrable at the back
- Mike Maignan (Milan): outstanding between the posts, barely tested but commanding when called upon
The Rematch: Qatar 2022 Semi-Final
The two nations haven't crossed paths in a competitive fixture since Morocco's historic run to the 2022 semifinals in Qatar, when France ultimately went on to reach the final. France won that semi-final 2-0 with goals from Théo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani. It was the match that ended Morocco's greatest-ever World Cup story, and the result that has driven this current group ever since.
Now Morocco arrive as a team even more experienced than in Qatar. Morocco is looking to go one more step than Qatar 2022, when they beat Spain in the Round of 16 and Portugal in the quarter-finals before falling to France in the semi-final. This time, they face France a round earlier in the quarter-finals with a semi-final berth on the line.
Head-to-Head
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 1998 | King Hassan II Tournament | Morocco 2-2 France (Morocco won 6-5 on pens) |
| Nov 2022 | World Cup Semi-Final (Qatar) | France 2-0 Morocco |
| Jul 9, 2026 | World Cup Quarter-Final | ? |
Morocco won the last competitive meeting before Qatar on penalties in 1998. France won the one that mattered most in 2022. On July 9, the rubber match.
Tactical Preview
Morocco under Mohamed Ouahbi will set up in their familiar compact defensive block, disciplined, well-organised, and devastating on the counter. The blueprint against France is almost identical to how they approached Spain in Qatar 2022: absorb the possession, protect the central zones, and hit Les Bleus in transition with Hakimi and Díaz. The question is whether Morocco can do it without Saibari's runs in behind to stretch France's defence.
France under Didier Deschamps, who will leave his role after 14 years at the end of this tournament, will look to dominate possession and use the width of Gillette Stadium to overload Morocco's defensive flanks. Mbappé's directness and Dembélé's creativity will probe for the space Morocco defends so well. If France can score first, Morocco's task becomes exponentially harder.
The key battle: Theo Hernández vs Achraf Hakimi, two world-class attacking fullbacks on opposite flanks. Whichever one dominates more of the game shapes the outcome entirely.
Prediction
France are the tournament's best team by some distance. Their attacking firepower Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, Barcola is unlike anything Morocco have faced at this World Cup. And without Saibari, Morocco's ability to threaten in transition is significantly reduced.
And yet this Morocco team has been here before. They held Brazil, beat the Netherlands on penalties, and hammered Canada. They know how to organise, how to absorb pressure, and how to make the most of a single chance. And they have a score to settle.
Our prediction: France 2-1 Morocco (AET)
France's quality wins out, but Morocco make it uncomfortable from start to finish, and Ounahi or Díaz pulls one back late. France edge through to the semi-final, but the Atlas Lions walk off to a standing ovation for the second World Cup in a row.
Path to the Semi-Final
The winner of Morocco vs France advances to the semi-final at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas on July 14, where they face the winner of Portugal vs Spain.
FAQ: Morocco vs France
When does Morocco vs France kick off?
Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM UK / 10:00 PM Morocco time at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Is Ismael Saibari fit for the France game?
Unknown. Saibari suffered a suspected hamstring strain in the 22nd minute against Canada. MRI results will determine his availability. His absence would be a huge blow to Morocco's attacking threat.
Has Morocco beaten France before?
Not in a World Cup. Their only previous World Cup meeting was the Qatar 2022 semi-final, which France won 2-0. In the 1998 King Hassan II Tournament, Morocco beat France 6-5 on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
How many goals has Mbappé scored at the 2026 World Cup?
Seven goals in five games, leading the Golden Boot race alongside Lionel Messi. He also holds the all-time record for most goals in World Cup knockout matches: 10.
What happens if Morocco vs France is a draw after 90 minutes?
Extra time (2x15 minutes), then a penalty shootout if still level. Morocco have already shown they can win on penalties, beating the Netherlands 3-2 in the Round of 32.
Who does the winner face in the semi-final?
The winner plays Portugal or Spain at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas on July 14.
📌 Check back after the final whistle for our full match report. Follow all World Cup 2026 quarter-finals on our Live Hub. Dima Maghrib
