{"id":2582,"date":"2026-07-09T21:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2582"},"modified":"2026-07-09T21:00:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:00:22","slug":"rivals-france-and-morocco-meet-to-kick-off-quarterfinals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=2582","title":{"rendered":"Rivals France and Morocco meet to kick off quarterfinals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p id=\"anchor-b9237e\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>There\u2019s only one game today, but it\u2019s a big one. France and Morocco renew their World Cup rivalry in the opening game of the quarterfinals, four years after they met in the semifinals. France has played five games this tournament \u2014 and won all five. It seems destined to reach its third consecutive World Cup final. Or can Morocco pull off the upset?<\/em><\/p>\n<p><button class=\"styles_subscriptionCTA__LOUeY\" id=\"subscriptionCTA\" type=\"button\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,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\" alt=\"NBC News Icon\" class=\"styles_icon__wRwWv\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"styles_textWrapper__vxvko\">\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB styles_textLarge__qlzwu\">Subscribe to read this story ad-free<\/p>\n<p class=\"styles_text__daaVB\">Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/rockcms\/2026-01\/arrow-f55fa5.svg\" alt=\"arrow\" class=\"styles_arrow__tnruW\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\/><\/button><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-fd7d35\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>Have you been following our live blogs? We\u2019ll be providing <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcnews.com\/sports\"><em>analysis and insight throughout the game<\/em><\/a><em>, whether you\u2019re watching on TV or not. Join us!  <\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"body-hori-rule\"\/>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-67a4a5\" class=\"body-heading\">World Cup Preview<\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-e7ff0b\" class=\"body-graf\">After yesterday\u2019s day off (boring, wasn\u2019t it?), we\u2019re back in action with Morocco carrying Africa\u2019s hopes against tournament favorite France, a repeat of the 2022 semifinal.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-5399c6\" class=\"body-graf\">This French team is in even better shape than the one that beat the Atlas Lions 2-0 four years ago, with London-born Bundesliga Player of the Season <strong>Michael Olise<\/strong> pulling the strings. He has registered five assists this World Cup, more than any player at the tournament.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-4b1af3\" class=\"body-graf\">Les Bleus are also the tournament\u2019s joint top goal scorers, alongside champion Argentina. <strong>Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 <\/strong>has seven goals (one behind <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong>) and <strong>Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/strong> has four. He went goalless in Qatar.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-e3aa66\" class=\"body-graf\">The French aren\u2019t just about attacking flair. In overcoming an ultraphysical Paraguay 1-0 in the round of 16, the team also showed steel in sweltering conditions.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-f7d933\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1670\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-3-rs-d44075.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-3-rs-d44075.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-3-rs-d44075.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-3-rs-d44075.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-3-rs-d44075.jpg\" alt=\"France v Sweden: Round Of 32 - FIFA World Cup 2026\" height=\"1670\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Michael Olise of France attempts an overhead kick during the World Cup match against Sweden at New York\/New Jersey Stadium on June 30.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Mattia Ozbot \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"anchor-1b64c0\" class=\"body-graf\">By contrast, Morocco made much lighter work of Canada in the previous round, winning 3-0 after an impressive second-half showing.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-445026\" class=\"body-graf\">Morocco was under French protectorate from 1912 to 1956, and the two countries remain closely connected. Six of the Morocco squad members were born in France.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-49bd8a\" class=\"body-graf\">Morocco is on the longest unbeaten streak of any team at the World Cup, a run of 34 games. The current Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion, Morocco is sixth in the FIFA rankings, ahead of Portugal, Belgium and the Netherlands, which it beat on penalties in the round of 32 after a 1-1 draw.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-f56458\" class=\"body-graf\">Its defense includes the biggest star in Moroccan soccer, <strong>Achraf Hakimi<\/strong>, a right back with a license to roam. Further forward is creator-in-chief <strong>Brahim D\u00edaz<\/strong>, the breakout star from the last AFCON.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-74b631\" class=\"body-graf\">Hakimi and D\u00edaz have two goals and five assists between them. However, its top scorer at this tournament, <strong>Ismael Saibari<\/strong>, is out with a hamstring injury. Saibari scored in each of Morocco\u2019s three group games and struck the decisive penalty in the shootout win over the Netherlands.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-c74ad8\" class=\"body-graf\">Morocco might be happy to take this one to penalties as well: Goalkeeper <strong>Yassine Bounou<\/strong> has made nine saves in the tournament and recorded two clean sheets.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-593826\" class=\"body-graf\">Completing the quarterfinal lineup this week: Spain plays Belgium tomorrow, and on Saturday, England takes on Norway and Switzerland faces Argentina.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"styles_inlineImage__FvnTh styles_medium__MEKii\" id=\"anchor-c26060\"><picture class=\"styles_image__i32F7\" data-testid=\"picture\" data-flavor=\"fit\" data-original-height=\"1713\" data-original-width=\"2500\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1000px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-Morocco-rs-087d46.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-560w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-Morocco-rs-087d46.jpg 1x\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 320px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_avif,q_auto:eco,dpr_2\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-Morocco-rs-087d46.jpg 2x, https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-Morocco-rs-087d46.jpg 1x\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_fit-760w,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-Morocco-rs-087d46.jpg\" alt=\"Brazil v Morocco: Group C - FIFA World Cup 2026\" height=\"1713\" width=\"2500\"\/><\/picture><figcaption class=\"caption styles_caption__TCewG\" data-testid=\"caption\"><span class=\"caption__container\" data-testid=\"caption__container\">Brahim D\u00edaz of Morocco during the World Cup match against Brazil at New York\/New Jersey Stadium on June 13.<\/span><span class=\"caption__source\" data-testid=\"caption__source\">Kevin C. Cox \/ Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<hr class=\"body-hori-rule\"\/>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-395b6d\" class=\"body-heading\">Men in Blazers<\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-c7e89e\" class=\"body-graf\">The Golden Boot race has been perhaps the most exciting scoring spree to ever grace the World Cup, with <strong>Lionel Messi<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DahI9ErlCS7\/?hl=en&amp;img_index=1&amp;utm_campaign=welcome-to-the-world-cup-quarterfinals&amp;utm_medium=Newsletter&amp;utm_source=men-in-blazers.beehiiv.com\">leading the pack with eight goals<\/a>, and <strong>Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/strong> and <strong>Erling Haaland<\/strong> just behind him with seven, while <strong>Harry Kane<\/strong> lurks in the shadows with six.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-4e9b44\" class=\"body-graf\">But goals aren\u2019t the only thing carrying teams past the round of 16. France also features <strong>Michael Olise<\/strong>, who sits on five assists and is on the verge of surpassing <strong>Pel\u00e9<\/strong>\u2019s long-standing record of six in one tournament from 1970. <\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-45c9ab\" class=\"body-graf\">That\u2019s not to mention the individual brilliance of countless others who have stepped up to the plate to lead their nation with creativity \u2014 from Switzerland\u2019s <strong>Johan Manzambi<\/strong> and Morocco\u2019s <strong>Brahim D\u00edaz<\/strong> to Spain\u2019s <strong>Unai Sim\u00f3n<\/strong>, who has yet to concede a single (!) goal. This World Cup has been fueled by individual brilliance, and it\u2019s become difficult to let it all soak in due to the extraordinary performances, day after day. We truly are not worthy.<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-a82cdc\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>For more World Cup coverage sent straight to your inbox every morning, <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/mibcourage.co\/4undMxT\"><em>subscribe to the Men in Blazers newsletter<\/em><\/a><em>. We\u2019ll be covering every match, every goal and every joyous moment that soccer\u2019s biggest spectacle is sure to bring.<\/em><\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-1ea306\" class=\"body-graf\"><em>Also, check out our Road Trip tees. It\u2019s a once-in-a-lifetime footballing experience to have these matches in stadiums across the nation and we wanted to honor it with a custom tee for each host city. <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.meninblazers.com\/collections\/mib-great-american-road-trip?utm_source=mib-newsletter&amp;utm_medium=newsletter&amp;utm_campaign=road-trip-tees&amp;utm_content=intro\"><em>Rep your favorite city and grab yours<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr class=\"body-hori-rule\"\/>\n<h2 id=\"anchor-61fc52\" class=\"body-heading\">What We\u2019re Watching<\/h2>\n<p id=\"anchor-9206fc\" class=\"body-graf\">There\u2019s only one game today! Clear your schedule. It\u2019s on Telemundo and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/es-us\/sports\/copa-mundial\">Peacock<\/a>, and the time listed is Eastern:<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-050480\" class=\"body-graf\"><strong>4 p.m.: <\/strong>France vs. Morocco<\/p>\n<p id=\"anchor-542957\" class=\"endmark body-graf\"><em>That\u2019s it for now! We\u2019ll be back tomorrow.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>There\u2019s only one game today, but it\u2019s a big one. France and Morocco renew their World Cup rivalry in the opening game of the quarterfinals, four years after they met in the semifinals. France has played five games this tournament \u2014 and won all five. It seems destined to reach its third consecutive World Cup&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com\/image\/upload\/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best\/rockcms\/2026-07\/260709-france-rs-8596da.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2582","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2582"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2582\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}