France and Morocco meet in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinals on July 9th in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
French coach Didier Deschamps has made a surprising change, starting midfielder Désiré Doué in place of forward Bradley Barcola. The move rewards Doué for his dynamic performance as a substitute in the Round of 16.
Morocco faces a tactical adjustment after losing forward Ismael Saibari to injury. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi has responded by placing Brahim Díaz, typically a creative playmaker, into the lone striker role.
France enters as the historical favorite, building on its 2018 championship legacy. Morocco, however, is no underdog, having made history as the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022.