World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final: France vs. Morocco Featuring Serie A Stars

France is set to face Morocco in the first quarter-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The French squad boasts several talents from Italy's Serie A, including Mike Maignan, Adrien Rabiot, and Manu Koné. On the Moroccan side, Neil El Aynaoui and Anass Salah-Eddine, both with Serie A connections, are part of the team.

The highly anticipated match is scheduled to kick off at 21:00 UK time (22:00 CEST) in Boston. The victor of this encounter will advance to the semi-finals to compete against either Spain or Belgium.

France enters the tournament as strong favorites, having been the runners-up four years prior and maintaining a perfect record in the competition so far. Their path to the quarter-finals included a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16.

The French team features a significant Serie A presence. Besides Milan's Maignan and Rabiot, Roma's Manu Koné retains his starting position despite Aurélien Tchouaméni recovering from a muscular injury. Inter Milan striker Marcus Thuram is back on the bench after injury concerns.

In the attacking lineup, Désiré Doué is selected over Bradley Barcola, joining the formidable trio of Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé.

Morocco should not be underestimated. They are officially on an impressive 34-match unbeaten streak, although a dispute with Senegal over the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final result is still pending legal resolution. The Moroccan squad includes two players from Roma: midfielder El Aynaoui and left-back Anass Salah-Eddine, who recently completed a loan spell.

Bayern Munich's Ismael Saibari is sidelined due to an injury sustained during their win against Canada. Notable former Serie A players in the Moroccan team include ex-Milan player Brahim Diaz, Inter Milan's Achraf Hakimi, and former Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

France vs. Morocco Starting Lineups

France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé

Morocco: Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Mazraoui, Salah-Eddine; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Talbi, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Brahim Diaz

Match Summary and Statistics

France 2 - 0 Morocco

Date: 09-07-2026

Time: 21:00 CEST

Venue: Gillette Stadium

Key Events:

28': Kylian Mbappé (France) missed a penalty.
60': Kylian Mbappé (France) scored (Assist: Désiré Doué).
63': Issa Diop (Morocco) received a yellow card.
66': Ousmane Dembélé (France) scored (Assist: Kylian Mbappé).

Starting Lineups:

France: Maignan (GK); Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Koné (subbed off 71'), Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé.

Morocco: Bounou (GK); Hakimi, Diop, Mazraoui, Salah-Eddine; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi (subbed in 62'); Talbi, Ounahi, El Khannouss (subbed off 62'); Brahim Diaz.