France vs Morocco today: World Cup 2026 quarterfinal guide
Only one FIFA World Cup 2026 match is scheduled for Thursday, July 9: France vs Morocco in the quarterfinals at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). The winner earns the first semifinal berth in a high-stakes francia marruecos rematch.
The 2026 tournament's knockout stage enters its decisive stretch today. After 48 teams and a packed round of 16, just eight remain. France and Morocco open the quarterfinals with the night's only fixture — and the stakes could hardly be higher.
Key Takeaways
- Today's sole World Cup 2026 match is France vs Morocco in the quarterfinals at Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts.
- Kickoff is 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT, with additional regional times listed by CNN en Español.
- The winner advances to the semifinals; the loser is eliminated from the tournament.
- In the U.S., Spanish-language coverage airs on Telemundo and Peacock starting at 4 p.m. ET.
- Friday brings Spain vs Belgium; Saturday features Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland.
What World Cup matches are on today, July 9?
Thursday, July 9, features exactly one quarterfinal. France face Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, according to CNN en Español. No other World Cup fixtures are scheduled for the day.
The BBC notes that quarterfinal action begins with this fixture before the remaining three ties spread across Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11. Spain play Belgium on Friday. Norway meet England and Argentina face Switzerland on Saturday.
For ongoing fixture alerts and streaming updates, bookmark our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
What time does France vs Morocco kick off?
CNN en Español lists these kickoff times for the France-Morocco quarterfinal:
- 4 p.m. — Miami (ET)
- 1 p.m. — Los Angeles (PT)
- 2 p.m. — Mexico City
- 3 p.m. — Bogotá
- 5 p.m. — Buenos Aires
- 10 p.m. — Madrid
The BBC's bracket schedule also lists 2 p.m. in Mexico, 3 p.m. in Colombia, Ecuador, and Panama, and 5 p.m. in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. U.S. viewers on the East Coast should plan for a 4 p.m. ET start.
Where can you watch France vs Morocco on TV and streaming?
For U.S. viewers watching in Spanish, Telemundo and Peacock carry the quarterfinal live. NBCUniversal's Telemundo coverage begins at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 9, with commentary from José Luis López Salido, Jorge Calvo, and Enzo Olivera among others.
Telemundo's sports desk, El Pelotazo, flagged the matchup as the day's top sports story, noting France aim for a third straight World Cup semifinal appearance while lining up their strongest available side against Morocco.
UK broadcast details were not specified in today's source reports. Check local listings closer to kickoff for any BBC or ITV coverage of the quarterfinal round.
Why does the France-Morocco quarterfinal matter?
This is more than a last-eight tie between two in-form sides. CNN frames it as a chance for Morocco to avenge their 2022 World Cup semifinal exit against the same opponent. France won that Qatar meeting and arrive as tournament favorites, per the BBC.
France edged Paraguay in the round of 16 on a Kylian Mbappé penalty. Mbappé shares the Golden Boot lead with seven goals, level with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland. Morocco, the last African team standing from the ten that started the tournament, swept Canada 3-0 in the round of 16.
Morocco made history in Qatar as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal. The BBC reports only three French players from that 2022 semifinal squad are expected to start today, while Morocco have refreshed their lineup since that run. Achraf Hakimi remains a key figure for the Atlas Lions.
What are the likely lineups for France vs Morocco?
CNN en Español published probable starting elevens for both sides:
France (Didier Deschamps): Mike Maignan; Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne; Manu Koné, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappé.
Morocco (Mohamed Ouahbi): Yassine Bounou; Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Redouano Halhal, Noussair Mazraoui; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil Al Aynaoui; Bilel El Khanouss, Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Díaz; Soufiane Rahimi.
Official lineups are confirmed closer to kickoff. The winner faces either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals, with that quarterfinal set for Friday, July 10.