We are down to the final eight in the 2026 World Cup. There are the regulars, like Argentina, France and Spain, and there are some fresh faces with Norway and Switzerland.
France is the only team to win all five of its matches without needing extra time and Kylian Mbappé has been on a heater. He’s only one goal shy of Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race heading into Thursday’s tilt with Morocco. Les Bleus will be looking to reach their third straight semifinal and become only the third team to advance to the final four three tournaments in a row.
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In order to break down France, the Atlas Lions will need their stars to be at their best. Morocco is the first African nation to advance to the final eight in back-to-back World Cups and certainly aren’t expecting to be sent home at this stage.
Who will move on to next week’s World Cup semifinals?
Quarterfinals schedule
LIVE (Fox): Morocco vs. France
Friday, July 10, 3 p.m. ET (Fox): Belgium vs. Spain
Saturday, July 11, 5 p.m. ET (Fox): Norway vs. England
Saturday, July 11, 9 p.m. ET (Fox): Argentina vs. Switzerland
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Yahoo Sports Staff
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Kari Anderson
Morocco gets a free kick that they take quickly — too quick for the broadcast, which lingers too long on a shot of Shakira and misses most of the action.
Jules Koundé was able to break up the kick, per the announcers. Still no shots taken for Morocco.
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Kari Anderson
For what it’s worth, it’s very hot and muggy in Foxborough right now. Current outside temperature is 89 degrees, but it feels like 101 with the humidity, per AccuWeather.
The shade is finally starting to creep across the field, and a big cloud just came through to offer some relief, but the full sun has looked brutal for the players.
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Kari Anderson
Yassine “Bono” Bounou gets his third save of the game, blocking a great shot from Désiré Doué that nearly slipped into the goal before Bono was able to push it just out of bounds.
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Kari Anderson
Morocco gets another exciting breakaway chance, but the pass isn’t quite on target, and Dayot Upamecano is able to break it up.
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Kari Anderson
After Mbappé’s stopped penalty, the game heads into a late hydration break, which France may have reset their energy. Ousmane Dembélé quickly takes a long shot; though it does go well wide, it’s an indicator that Les Bleus will probably spend the rest of the half amping up the pressure.
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Kari Anderson
What a save from Yassine Bounou, who denies Kylian Mbappé of a first-half penalty kick. Bounou isn’t fooled by the stutter step and successfully dives to his left to stop Mbappé’s shot.
Mbappé immediately goes over to complain to the referee, probably about the significant delay in starting the penalty while VAR double-checked the ruling. But it won’t matter, and the game will stay tied 0-0.
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Kari Anderson
That’s an easy decision for Facundo Tello, as Noussair Mazraoui challenges Kylian Mbappé in the box but doesn’t get any part of the ball.
There’s an oddly lengthy check to determine the penalty, likely because of a strong challenge from Désiré Doué on Achraf Hakimi in the run-up to the play, but VAR confirms the penalty.
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Kari Anderson
Morocco gets a corner kick, and takes it short and quick, but there isn’t anyone to receive the cross into the box. That’s another wasted set piece early on for the Atlas Lions.
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Kari Anderson
Two more shots for France, with another from Dembélé getting stopped, and Adrien Rabiot going for the header off another French corner.
France has been the stronger-looking team so far on every part of the field, with Les Bleus dominating possession and holding six total shots. The Atlas Lions haven’t event taken a touch in the French box in these first 20-ish minutes.
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Kari Anderson
Ousmane Dembélé finds France’s fourth shot of the game with his head, but it goes wide left.
Morocco has yet to take a shot, with Hakimi’s shanked free kick their best chance up to this point.
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Kari Anderson
A Morocco free kick gives the Atlas Lions a great set piece chance, bringing everyone up to try and receive the kick from Achraf Hakimi. Unfortunately, Hakimi’s kick sails over the top of everyone and out of bound.
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Kari Anderson
Brahim Díaz pulls away for a breakaway chance down the field, but is flanked by multiple French players before Manu Koné dispossesses him.
The Moroccan fans wanted a foul there, but the referee has them play on. Replay appears to show that it was a clean tackle: Koné got to the ball before he got to Díaz’s boots.
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Kari Anderson
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Kari Anderson
There appears to be a red balloon lazily drifting across the field. Both teams are currently choosing to ignore it as it floats out of bounds.
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Kari Anderson
Just four minutes in, Kylian Mbappé nearly nabs an early goal with a shot from just outside the box that goes just wide left, tapped out by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou.
On the corner kick, defender Dayot Upamecano gets his head on the ball for a great on-target chance, but Bono is there again to tap it out of the goal. Early heroics from the Moroccan goalie, who has been incredible all tournament.
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Sean Leahy
France and Morocco are underway from Foxborough. Today’s winner will advance to Tuesday’s semifinal in Dallas against Spain or Belgium.
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JULY 09: Players and match officials line up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 09, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
(Alex Slitz via Getty Images)
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By Saturday night, this field will be down to just four teams.
CLICK TO ENLARGE: World Cup bracket after Tuesday’s games (Taylor Wilhelm/Yahoo Sports illustration)
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Sean Leahy
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Sean Leahy
France remains the favorites — not just in their quarterfinal match, but for the rest of the World Cup. Morocco will carry the underdog tag, but they are a stronger side than what they fielded four years ago at Al Bayt Stadium. Only nine players from that 2022 roster remain, proving that the growth within the program has helped earned their place in the final eight.
On Thursday in Foxborough, Morocco will get another opportunity to show how far it has come to be among soccer’s elite.
Players of Morocco celebrate a goal during the round of 16 match between Canada and Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Houston Stadium in Houston, the United States, July 4, 2026. (Photo by Xiao Yijiu/Xinhua via Getty Images)
(Xinhua News Agency via Getty Images)
