France are through to the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after beating Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16.
They now face Morocco on Thursday, July 9 at Boston Stadium, in a rematch of their 2022 semi-final.
How France Reached the Quarter-Finals
France booked their FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final place with a 1-0 win over Paraguay in the Round of 16. Kylian Mbappé converted a 70th-minute penalty at Philadelphia Stadium to settle a tight, ill-tempered tie.
France arrived at the knockouts in red-hot form, winning Group I with three wins from three. They beat Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1, with Ousmane Dembélé scoring a hat-trick inside the first 32 minutes against Norway.
| Match | Date | Venue | Kickoff | How They Got Here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| France vs Morocco (QF) | Thu, July 9, 2026 | Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium), Foxborough | 4 PM ET | France beat Paraguay 1-0; Morocco beat Canada 3-0 |
Track every result on the live World Cup 2026 knockout bracket.
Les Bleus then eased past Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32, Mbappé scoring twice with Bradley Barcola adding the third. The quarter-final is now fixed for Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough on Thursday, July 9, kicking off at 4 PM US Eastern Time.
The Team Standing in France’s Way: Morocco
France’s opponent is Morocco, the 2022 semi-finalists and one of the most impressive sides of this tournament.
- Morocco reached the quarter-finals by beating co-hosts Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16, Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi added a stoppage-time third, having earlier knocked out the Netherlands on penalties.
- Familiar foes: France beat Morocco 2-0 in the semi-final at Qatar 2022 on their way to the final, so the Atlas Lions arrive with a score to settle.
Morocco have looked assured on their run to the last eight, with Achraf Hakimi driving forward from full-back and Yassine Bounou reliable in goal, his penalty save against the Netherlands sending them through.
The Matchup: France vs Morocco in Boston
France meet Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, a heavyweight quarter-final and a rematch of the 2022 semi-final that Les Bleus won 2-0.
France carry the firepower. Kylian Mbappé has scored the goal that beat Paraguay and is now level with Lionel Messi on career World Cup goals, with Dembélé supplying the creativity behind him.
Morocco will not fear the occasion. Roared on by a huge travelling support and having already eliminated the Netherlands and co-hosts Canada in the knockouts, they believe the 2022 result can be avenged.
Planning to follow the tie? Compare hotels in Boston for the July 9 quarter-final.
Image credit: William Gallas celebrates a goal for France against Ireland (2009), photo by Nicolas Richoffer via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is France’s opponent in the World Cup 2026 quarter-final?
France face Morocco in the quarter-final on Thursday, July 9, at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough. It is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which France won 2-0.
How did France reach the quarter-finals?
France won Group I with three wins from three, beating Senegal 3-1, Iraq 3-0 and Norway 4-1. They then beat Sweden 3-0 in the Round of 32 and Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, Kylian Mbappé scoring the winner from the penalty spot.
When and where is France vs Morocco?
France vs Morocco kicks off at 4 PM US Eastern Time on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) in Foxborough, Massachusetts. As of publishing, the match had not yet kicked off.
Sources
- FIFA — France v Morocco Match Centre, Quarter-Final
- Al Jazeera — France, Mbappe play Morocco in FIFA World Cup quarterfinal: What we know
- ESPN — France vs. Morocco at World Cup 2026: TV channel, kickoff time, live stream
- ESPN — France vs. Morocco Live Score, July 9, 2026
- ESPN — 2026 FIFA World Cup Bracket
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publishing. Match schedules, results, and travel details can change quickly during the tournament, so please verify with official sources before finalising travel plans.
