Franch vs Morocco —World Cup: Live score and match stats

14' | Morocco free kick

Digne leaves a foot in on Ounahi along the touchline, giving Morocco a free kick in a dangerous position. Hakimi steps up and whips a deep cross into the box, but it has too much on it and sails harmlessly out for a goal kick

9' | STOPPAGE!

Doué commits the foul, bringing down Díaz who wins a free kick for his side in the early stages.

2' | FOUL!

El Aynaoui commits an early challenge, bringing down Koné to concede a free kick.

France and Morocco open World Cup quarterfinals

France will play Morocco today, marking the beginning of the quarterfinals at this year’s World Cup. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. ET.

Today’s winner will match up against the winner of Spain vs. Belgium, which is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. ET.

Morocco

Morocco entered the tournament with a lot of promise despite being controversially crowned AFCON champion earlier this year, especially after the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinal in Qatar 2022.

Mohamed Ouahbi’s side followed up an impressive 1-1 draw against Brazil in its opener with successive wins against Haiti and Scotland to finish Group C runner-up behind the Seleção on goal difference.

The Atlas Lions then put on a dominant display against the Netherlands in the round of 32, but a goal from Cody Gakpo against the run of play with under 20 minutes remaining looked to have secured a stunning smash-and-grab victory for the Oranje.

That was before Issa Diop’s towering header in the 91st minute gave Morocco a deserved equalizer, as they eventually went on to win a truly unforgettable knockout game on penalties.

It was a win that would have undoubtedly inspired confidence and belief, which was only heightened when Ouahbi’s side comfortably dispatched co-host Canada 3-0 in Houston to book its quarterfinal spot.

As the last African nation standing in the tournament, many on the continent will be backing the Atlas Lions to book their place in a second straight World Cup semifinal.

France

France has been the standout team in the World Cup so far and has certainly backed up its pre-tournament status as one of the favorites.

Les Bleus blitzed through the group stage with a perfect record, as a 3-1 win against Senegal in their opener was followed up by equally impressive 3-0 and 4-1 victories over Iraq and Norway.

This meant France finished top of Group I and won all three of its group games for the first time since 1998, the year it first won the World Cup.

It was more of the same in the round of 32 as Sweden became the next team to fall to the French juggernaut, as a comprehensive 3-0 victory saw Didier Deschamps’ side into the last 16.

That is where the toughest test to date came for Les Bleus, as a stubborn Paraguay pushed them further than any side before, but a vital second half penalty from captain Kylian Mbappé saw them into a fourth straight quarterfinal.

Only Argentina has matched France’s 14 goals at this tournament, while the 12 assists registered by Deschamps’ side are the most of any team. They will certainly take some stopping.

France vs Morocco: Head-to-head

They have met six times, with France winning four matches while two ended in a draw.


Prediction

The Opta supercomputer gives France a 61.7 percent likelihood of winning in regulation time – Morocco’s chances of winning are 16.2 percent.

The model estimates a 22.1 percent probability of the game going to extra time.


Line-up

Morocco: Ismael Saibari is out with a hamstring injury and Redouane Halhal drops down to the bench as Mohamed Ouahbi makes two changes to his line-up.

Chemsdine Talbi and Anass Salah-Eddine come in for the Atlas Lions.

Morocco XI: Yassine Bounou (goalkeeper); Achraf Hakimi (captain), Issa Diop, Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah-Eddine; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui; Chemsdine Talbi, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Brahim Diaz.

France: Desire Doue comes into the team with Bradley Barcola dropping down to the bench.

Aurelien Tchouameni remains among the subs due to an adductor [thigh muscle] injury he sustained before the Round of 16.

France XI: Mike Maignan (goalkeeper); Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue; Kylian Mbappe (captain)

France and Morocco face off today in the dream of the last four

France and Morocco are facing each other today in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. This much-awaited match will be held at Gillette Stadium (Boston Stadium) in Boston, USA, at 2 am Bangladesh time on Thursday.

France, who has been in great form throughout the tournament, defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the last 16 to make it to the quarter-finals. Didier Deschamps' team secured the victory with a penalty goal from Kylian Mbappe. On the other hand, Morocco confidently defeated Canada 3-0 in the last 16 and reached the last eight. The Atlas Lions also drew with Brazil in the group stage and won against Haiti and Scotland. The reason for the increased interest surrounding the match is that it is a repeat of the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. France defeated Morocco 2-0 to reach the final. However, the Blues lost to Argentina in the title-deciding match and finished as runners-up.

France is playing as one of the title contenders in the current World Cup. Their biggest strengths are speed, squad depth and big match experience. On the other hand, Morocco is putting pressure on their opponents with counter-attacking football, disciplined defense and fast attacks. The attack led by Brahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi can put the French defense to a tough test. However, Morocco is worried before the important match. One of the team's wingers, Ismail Sabry, is suffering from a hamstring injury. He has been under medical observation since he was injured in the last 16 match against Canada. Although the Moroccan Football Association has not officially announced anything, local media claim that his participation in the quarter-finals is uncertain. Sabry's absence could be a major blow to Morocco's attack.

Meanwhile, the match will be officiated by Argentina's experienced referee Facundo Tello. His assistants will be Juan Pablo Bellatti and Gabriel Chade. Dario Herrera will be the fourth official and Cristian Navarro will serve as the reserve assistant referee.

Both teams have maintained a great consistency in the knockout stages of the World Cup so far. France has scored 14 goals in five matches, seven of which have come from the feet of captain Kylian Mbappe. He is also ahead in the race for the Golden Boot. On the other hand, Morocco is at the peak of confidence after going undefeated in 34 consecutive matches in international football. Under coach Mohamed Wahbi, Morocco has become a strong team with a combination of technical skill, physical ability and tactical discipline. However, France coach Didier Deschamps is also optimistic about his team.

Overall, this quarter-final match is being considered one of the most interesting matches of this year's World Cup. Both teams are ready to give their best to secure a place in the semi-finals.

Statistics and XIs of the two teams facing each other

The football world is going to enjoy a blockbuster match in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. One of the superpowers of Europe, France, and the pride of Africa, Morocco, are facing each other in the great battle to reach the semi-finals. This high-voltage match, which is a repeat of the much-discussed semi-final of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, will be held at Foxborough Stadium in Boston, America, on Friday (July 10) at 2 am Bangladesh time. In this fight to make it to the last four of the world stage, the recent form of the two teams, head-to-head records and injury updates have brought the match to the center of discussion of millions of football fans around the world.

Recent performances of the two teams in the current World Cup

Didier Deschamps' France is in great shape in the current World Cup. After giving an aggressive football gift in the group stage, the French team defeated Paraguay 1-0 in the last sixteen knockout match to secure a quarter-final. Kylian Mbappe's penalty against a defensive Paraguay was the difference maker. Morocco, on the other hand, entered the last eight with equal confidence. After drawing with Brazil in the group stage and defeating Haiti and Scotland, the Atlas Lions defeated Canada 3-0 in the last 16. Under new coach Mohamed Wahbi, Morocco is showing a great balance between defense and counterattack.

Head-to-head history

Analyzing the history and statistics of head-to-head matches, it can be seen that France is clearly ahead of Morocco in official and recognized international matches. A total of 6 international matches have been held between the two teams so far. Of these, France has won 4, Morocco has won only 1 and one match has been drawn. The French are also ahead on goal difference. The two teams first met in 1988. Then, Morocco won the only victory in the Hassan II International Tournament in 1998. However, France has since re-established dominance. In the last World Cup, Kylian Mbappe's France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. That match was the only World Cup meeting between the two teams, which has now reached a new level in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

However, no matter how much the statistics are in France's favor, there is no room for taking Morocco lightly. The African powerhouse has reached the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a series of excellent performances and has already shown its ability by seeing off teams like the Netherlands and Canada. On the other hand, France has also defeated Sweden and Paraguay to reach the last eight. As a result, although the past record is in France's favor, considering the current form the match is set to be an exciting clash of two different footballing philosophies.

France's strength

One of the world's superpowers, France's biggest strength is their attack. A combination of speed, creativity and clinical finishing, this team has the ability to turn the tide of the match at any moment. The team is led by captain Kylian Mbappe, who has already scored 7 goals in this World Cup and is at the top of the Golden Boot race. His incredible speed, dribbling, ability to beat opponents in one-on-one situations and perfect finishing have made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the world.

Along with Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele plays an equally important role in France's attack. This winger, equally skilled at both ends, showed his excellent form by scoring a hat-trick against Norway in the group stage. His pace, ball control and ability to create chances always put the opponent's defense under pressure. With a mix of experienced and young players in midfield, France can attack quickly, and when necessary, control the pace of the game while retaining possession. A strong defense, quick counterattacks and experience in big matches have made the French even more formidable opponents.

Morocco's strengths

Morocco are no longer just a surprise team; they have established themselves as one of the strongest teams in world football through consistent performances. The team's biggest foundation is their well-organized defense. Under the goalposts is experienced goalkeeper Yacine Bounou, who has repeatedly saved the team with amazing saves at crucial moments. Morocco's ability to save penalties and lead the defense are one of their greatest assets.

Leading the defense is PSG star fullback Achraf Hakimi. His pace, tackles, overlapping runs and contribution to the attack on the right wing add a different dimension to Morocco's game. In midfield, Azedine Unaihi controls the team's rhythm. He is very effective at holding the ball, making quick passes and building attacks. Under new coach Mohamed Wahbi, Morocco is playing more aggressive and confident football. Their biggest weapon is the strategy of quickly counter-attacking while maintaining discipline in defense. Defeating strong teams like the Netherlands and Canada in this World Cup and reaching the quarter-finals proves that Morocco is now capable of giving a tough challenge to any superpower.

France vs Morocco XI Formation and Lineup Analysis

In today's match, both teams are taking the field in a high-attacking and balanced 4-3-3 formation. Both teams have all the world's best stars in the goalposts and defense. Below are the final XIs of the two teams:

France XI
Goalkeeper: Mike Meignan; Defenders: Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Jules Kunde, Luca Digne; Midfielders: Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone, Michael Aulis; Forwards: Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barkola.

Morocco XI
Goalkeeper: Yacine Bounou; Defenders: Achraf Hakimi, Ichad Diop, Shadi Riad, Nousair Mazraoui; Midfielders: Azzedine Unahi, Ayoub Bouaddi, Neel El Aynaoui; Forwards: Sufian Rahimi, Brahim Diaz, Bilal El Khanos.