FIFA World Cup: Quarterfinal brackets, match schedule and game previews
Forty teams are already at home or on their way there, leaving just eight in the United States to contend for the ultimate prize in football at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The top four seeds have all made it through – just – but who will remain standing after 100 of this tournament’s 104 matches are complete?
This will be a hotly anticipated rematch of the semifinal in Qatar in 2022 when Morocco’s fairytale run was ended by the then-defending champions.
After topping a group featuring Croatia and Belgium, stunning Spain on penalties in the round of 16 and then overcoming Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals, Morocco came into the game full of momentum and confidence but also fatigued and nursing key injuries.
It felt like a bonus match at the time, but their uphill task became a mountain to climb when they fell behind after just five minutes.
To their credit, the Atlas Lions found their feet, enjoying 60 percent of the possession in the game, winning more corners than the French, having 10 shots at goal and hitting the woodwork, but only one of those efforts was on target, and France made the game safe with a crucial second goal 11 minutes from time.
Four years on and things are very different. Only nine members of the 2022 squad made this one. Just four of the starting XI who faced France last time started against Canada in this year’s round of 16. And Mohamed Ouahbi was installed as head coach in March after the departure of Walid Regragui, who led Morocco in Qatar and to the ill-fated AFCON final against Senegal in January.
After edging past the Netherlands on penalties in the round of 32 after grabbing a stoppage-time equaliser, Morocco made hard work of their last-16 tie against Canada, weathering plenty of first-half pressure and losing star forward Ismael Saibari to injury.
However, they showcased their clinical edge in the second half with a well-worked set piece to break the deadlock before two devastating counterattack goals to seal a 3-0 win.
France did struggle against the counter in the first half of their opening match against Senegal but were not punished, and it has been pretty plain sailing since. They sealed a 3-1 opening win, followed with victories against Iraq, a much-changed Norway, Sweden in the last 32 and then grinding out a difficult win over Paraguay in the last 16 courtesy of a late penalty.
Soufiane Rahimi ably replaced Saibari after coming on after 21 minutes against Canada. The Bayern Munich-bound forward scored in each of Morocco’s group games although he and his side might have had more goals and topped the group.
The quartet of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele and either Desire Doue or Bradley Barcola are undoubtedly the best in the world, and Morocco’s hopes will lie squarely on their defence and keeper Yassine Bounou standing strong while their forwards take advantage of any opportunities they can create on the break.
