Fans gather in Casablanca
Fans gather in Paris
Match resumes: France 0-0 Morocco
France 0-0 Morocco: Match resumes after halftime goes goalless.
Half-time stats: France on top, Morocco hanging on
Possession: France 50% – 44% Morocco (6% in contest)
France dominated the attacking stats, outshooting Morocco 13-1, with three efforts on target. Les Bleus had seven shots from inside the box and six from outside, while Morocco failed to register a shot on target.
France also held a slight edge in distribution, completing 245 of 277 passes to Morocco's 233 from 265. Both sides attempted six crosses, but France completed three while Morocco failed to find a teammate with any of theirs.
France also had the edge from set pieces, winning three corners to Morocco's one, while Morocco were awarded six free kicks to France's five.
Half-time: France 0-0 Morocco
Yassine Bounou is the difference so far, saving Mbappé's penalty and making several key stops to keep Morocco level. France have created the better chances, while Morocco have struggled to trouble Mike Maignan.
Hakimi's stoppage-time free kick flies well wide as the sides go into the break goalless.
Mbappé's rare miss
Mbappé had converted his previous 15 penalties and spot-kicks for France before Bounou denied him tonight. His last penalty miss for Les Bleus came in the Euro 2020 round of 16 shootout against Switzerland, making this his first failed spot-kick for France since then.
Brilliant Bounou
Including penalty shootouts, Yassine Bounou has now faced nine penalties at the World Cup. He has been beaten only twice—saving four and seeing three others miss the target.
Bounou comes to Morocco's rescue again
Yassine Bounou makes another superb save in the 36th minute, denying Désiré Doué after the France midfielder burst into the box and fired on goal.
Ayyoub Bouaddi: a World Cup wonderkid
The Moroccan midfield sensation is the second-youngest player ever to play in a World Cup quarter-final, according to FIFA
Youngest players to play in World Cup quarter-finals
17y 239d – Pele (Brazil) v Wales (1958)
18y 280d – Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco) v France (2026)
19y 76d – Aaron Lennon (England) v Portugal (2006)
Match resumes after hydration break
Mbappé misses penalty
Kylian Mbappe looked set to score from the penalty spot, but Bounou makes the save!
Mbappé bursts into the Morocco box on a counterattack before Noussair Mazraoui brings him down. The referee points straight to the spot.
Hakimi wastes free kick
Achraf Hakimi sends a free kick from the right well over everyone and behind for a goal kick.
France or Morocco?
France have looked almost unstoppable at this World Cup so far.
Les Bleus have scored 14 goals and conceded just two in five matches. But tonight could be their toughest test yet, with an in-form Morocco side reaching the quarter-finals after an impressive run.
Morocco were knocked out by France in the semi-finals of the last World Cup, making tonight's encounter an opportunity for revenge. Who will come out on top this time remains to be seen.
Fouls
Neil EL AYNAOUI (Morocco) commits a foul at 14' and Lucas DIGNE (France) does so at the following minute commits.
Early warning from France
France on the front foot early
France have threatened twice inside the opening five minutes, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has denied them both times to keep Morocco level.
KICK-OFF!
The first quarter-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is underway at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. France and Morocco are now battling for the first place in the semi-finals.
Mbappé closes in on Messi's World Cup goalscoring record
Mbappé is also two goals away from equalling Lionel Messi's all-time World Cup record of 21 goals.
Another round of games, more history made. #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/R8VLKVoEDa
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 8, 2026
A brace against Morocco would see the France captain draw level at the top of the scoring charts.
Mbappé trails Messi in Golden Boot race
Kylian Mbappé has the chance to close the gap on Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. The France captain has seven goals, just one behind Messi's tournament-leading eight.
The adidas Golden Boot race continues...#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tnz3pZuLpv
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 8, 2026
A goal against Morocco would draw Mbappé level with Messi, while a brace would send him to the top of the scoring charts as France chase a place in the semi-finals.
France's Lineup
Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Desire Doue; Kylian Mbappe (captain).
Morocco's Lineup
Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Noussair Mazraoui, Anass Salah Eddine; Neil El Aynaoui, Chemsdine Talbi, Ayyoub Bouaddi, Azzedine Ounahi, Bilal El Khannouss; Brahim Diaz.
France start with Doue instead of Barcola, Diaz to operate as lone striker for Morocco
France will start with attacking midfielder Desire Doue as coach Didier Deschamps opted to leave Bradley Barcola on the bench, in a tactical change for the 2018 world champions in their World Cup quarter-final against Morocco on Thursday.
In a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, apart from Barcola, the France starting 11 is unchanged from their 1-0 win over Paraguay in the round of 16, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele spearheading the attack, backed by Michael Olise.
Morocco are without key forward Ismael Saibari, who was injured in their last match.
Coach Mohamed Ouahbi brings in defender Anass Salah Eddine and midfielder Chemsdine Talbi, with Brahim Diaz playing as a lone forward.
The winners meet Spain or Belgium in the last four.
Welcome to football's biggest stage!
The FIFA World Cup quarter-finals begin today with a high-stakes clash between tournament favourites France and Morocco. With a place in the last four at stake, Prothom Alo English's live blog brings you every key moment from the reminders of the tournament.
Follow our live coverage for real-time scores, goals, major incidents, team news, key statistics and expert analysis from France vs Morocco and other matches. We'll also bring you the latest tournament updates, along with the best photos and videos, as the drama unfolds.
Stay with us for every moment of this FIFA World Cup showdown.
