09/07/2026 12:16 - Deportes
According to a report by the Argentine newspaper Clarín, France and Morocco are preparing to play the first quarter-final match of the 2026 World Cup. The encounter will take place this Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 17:00 (local time in Boston) at the iconic Gillette Stadium, located in Foxborough, near Boston. The winner of this tie will face the victor of the Spain vs. Belgium match in the semi-finals.
As detailed in the media, the match broadcast will be handled by the DSports network (a major South American sports channel) and the Paramount+ streaming platform. The European side, managed by Didier Deschamps, comes from eliminating Paraguay, while the African Atlas Lions crushed one of the host nations, Canada, by a resounding 3-0.
Four years ago, in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022, France defeated Morocco 2-0 and advanced to the final. This background fuels the hopes of the French side, who will seek a repeat performance on American soil.
It has been reported that Michael Olise will play under a yellow card suspension threat, as FIFA rejected the French appeal and the player will keep the yellow card he received against Paraguay. If he is booked again, he would miss a potential semi-final.
Meanwhile, forward Kylian Mbappé will remain unfazed by the controversy generated by an investigation opened in France regarding racist insults following the Paraguay match. Head coach Didier Deschamps assured that Mbappé "is at a great level and is not affected by anything that is being said."
Morocco, who already made history in Qatar 2022 by becoming the first African team to reach a semi-final, is not settling for less. According to press reports, coach Mohamed Ouahbi made his team's ambition clear: "The only thing extra here is to win the World Cup."
Deschamps, aware of the danger, praised the African side: "It's a really big team, with top-class individuals. They are not here just to participate, they are here to win."
Furthermore, as reported by TyC Sports, Artificial Intelligence has already produced its prediction for this clash. The AI estimates a 2-1 victory for France, highlighting Kylian Mbappé's game-changing ability as the key factor. The estimated probabilities are as follows:
| Outcome | Probability |
|---|---|
| France Wins | 62% |
| Draw (and extra time/penalties) | 23% |
| Morocco Wins | 15% |
Alfredo S. Quiroga
