Rabat – And time is up: Morocco and France face off tonight in one of the most anticipated matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The quarterfinal match kicks off at 9 p.m. in Boston Stadium, bringing Moroccan and French fans to Foxborough for an exciting encounter that means a lot for both teams.
Moroccan fans who could not travel to Boston can still watch the game on Morocco’s Arriyadia, beIN Sports Network, or Fox and Fox One.
ITV and SBS On Demand will also broadcast the game.
For Morocco, the game is more than just a match, but also an opportunity to take revenge on Les Bleus, who ended the Atlas Lions’ historic run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Morocco became the first Arab and African team to reach the semifinals.
Predication platforms favor France, giving Les Bleus a 61% chance of winning compared to Morocco’s 16%. But those forecasts may underestimate how much the Altas Lions have grown since 2022.
Morocco’s team arrived at the 2026 World Cup with greater experience, renewed confidence, and eagerness to roar louder.
Forecasts also tend to overlook Morocco’s impressive campaign, its fighting spirit, and how the team consistently defies expectations, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
The Round of 16 game against Canada was particularly telling, as it featured the national team’s ability to withstand adversity and deliver when it matters most.
The game tonight could see coach Mohamed Ouahbi deploying the same key players who thrilled and impressed the world, including Noussair Mazraoui, Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Neil El Aynaoui.
Brahim Diaz, Bilal El Khannouss, and Yassine Saibari are also expected to feature in the starting XI, alongside Issa Diop and Redouane Halhal, as well as Azzedine Ounahi, who netted twice in the clash against Canada.
For France’s XI, Didier Deschamps is expected, of course, to mobilize his stars, including Kylian Mbappé, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot, and William Saliba.
The same starting lineup could feature Jules Koundé, Mike Maignan, and Dayot Upamecano.
The French players are well aware of the Atlas Lions’ threats.
Mbappé, in one of his recent interviews, stated that France is “very happy to play against Morocco, and we’ll give everything we have to continue our journey.”
Bradley Barcola echoed that sentiment, calling Morocco a “very good” team. “We saw that in 2022,” he said, warning that his quarterfinal will be anything but easy.
