World Cup 2026: France vs Morocco – kick-off time, TV channels and everything you need to know

France and Morocco will renew their World Cup rivalry on Thursday as the two nations meet in the 2026 tournament quarter-finals, four years after their memorable semi-final clash in Qatar.

The match will take place on 9 July 2026 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with both teams aiming to secure a place in the final four of the competition.

France and Morocco prepare for another major World Cup meeting

The highly anticipated encounter brings together two teams that have impressed during this World Cup campaign.

France reached the quarter-finals after overcoming Paraguay 1-0 in Philadelphia.

The match was decided by captain Kylian Mbappé, who converted a penalty in the 70th minute to send Les Bleus through.

Didier Deschamps’ side has maintained a strong record in competitive matches, with France entering the clash against Morocco on a run of 12 official games without defeat, including 11 victories and one draw.

The French team will rely on its experience at the highest level, as it looks to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup for the third consecutive edition.

Morocco continue impressive World Cup journey

Morocco head into the match full of confidence after producing one of the strongest performances of the tournament so far.

The Atlas Lions defeated Canada 3-0 in Houston to book their place in the last eight.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice, while Soufiane Rahimi added another goal late in the match to complete a convincing victory.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou also played a key role, helping Mohamed Ouahbi’s side maintain defensive strength while showing their attacking quality.

Morocco’s performances have strengthened their reputation as one of the strongest teams in international football.

After reaching the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022, they are looking to repeat that achievement and prove their place among the world’s elite.

Match details: France vs Morocco

Date: Thursday, 9 July 2026
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA

Broadcast: TF1 and M6+ (France), Arryadia (Morocco), Fox Sports (USA)

What is at stake for both teams?

The winner of this quarter-final will advance to the World Cup semi-finals, making the match one of the most important fixtures of the tournament.

France are aiming to continue their remarkable consistency on the global stage, while Morocco want to show that their success in 2022 was not a one-off achievement.

For the Atlas Lions, the match also carries extra motivation following their 2-0 defeat by France in the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

Morocco will be hoping to overturn that result and create another historic moment.

Previous meetings between France and Morocco

The most recent competitive meeting between the two nations came in the 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar.

France won 2-0 to end Morocco’s historic run, but the upcoming encounter is expected to be a much closer contest given the progress made by the African side.

France have traditionally held the advantage in their head-to-head record, but Morocco’s current form has made them a serious threat.

Key players to watch

France will look towards Mbappé, who has been one of the tournament’s leading scorers with seven goals so far.

Morocco’s hopes will depend heavily on their midfield strength, with players such as Ayyoub Bouaddi and Azzedine Ounahi expected to play important roles in controlling possession and challenging France’s attacking rhythm.

With both teams possessing quality, organisation and tournament experience, the quarter-final promises to be one of the standout matches of the 2026 World Cup.