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France v Morocco: Quarter Final - FIFA World Cup 2026

French forward Kylian Mbappé led his side to victory, scoring the opening goal. He now has eight goals this tournament, tying at the top with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Source: AAP / Kyle Rodden

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As it happened: France v Morocco quarter-final — Dembélé, Mbappé deliver France a 2-0 victory

Morocco bows out as the final African team left in the tournament, while French striker Kylian Mbappé brings his men into the semi-finals.

France v Morocco: Quarter Final - FIFA World Cup 2026

French forward Kylian Mbappé led his side to victory, scoring the opening goal. He now has eight goals this tournament, tying at the top with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. Source: AAP / Kyle Rodden

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Source: SBS News


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5h ago
25' - French penalty!

Mbappé has been awarded a penalty!

France made a quick break on the counter, with Mbappé taken out in the box.

It's a clear foul by Mazraoui who takes him out with a poor slide tackle.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
21'

France wins their second corner of the game, playing it short.

Rabiot gets a head to the cross but it's over the top and out.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
12'

Morocco wins possession after an intercept by Diaz off a poor pass.

He takes the ball up the middle but is tackled outside the box. He goes down clutching his ankle, but no foul is called.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
9'

Morocco look to be settling into the game, slowing it down as they hold onto possession.

Diaz wins a free after a challenge by Doué.

It's a warm day in Boston, with the mercury at 32c for the 4pm, local time, kick off.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
4'

The corner is taken short and crossed in for a header, but Bounou makes a great save.

Two early chances for France here.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
First chance France!

Mbappé with the first chance of the game, taking a long-range strike from outside the box which goes wide.

Morocco's keeper gets a hand to it and it's out for a corner.

— Miles Proust

5h ago
Kick off!

And we have kick off, with Morocco taking the first touch, launching it forward and out for a French throw-in.

5h ago
You can watch the match on SBS or SBS On Demand

Just a reminder, you can watch the match live and free on SBS and SBS On Demand.

There's plenty of World Cup action across the weekend.

Quarter-final schedule (all times in AEST):

  • France vs Morocco, 6am 10 July, Boston
  • Spain vs Belgium, 5am 11 July, LA
  • Norway vs England, 7am 12 July, Miami
  • Argentina vs Switzerland, 11am 12 July , Kansas City

— Miles Proust

6h ago
French starting XI

The French starting lineup has been revealed, with coach Didier Deschamps making one change to the side that beat Paraguay.

Désiré Doué will come in for Bradley Barcola in attack.

— Miles Proust

6h ago
Morocco starting XI

Morocco has made two changes to the side that beat Canada in the Round of 16, with Anass Salah-Eddine and Chemsdine Talbi coming in for Redouane Halhal and the injured Ismael Saibari.

— Miles Proust

6h ago
Welcome to our coverage

The first quarter-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be one for the history books.

We will be covering the France v Morocco showdown when it kicks off at 6am AEST.

Led by captain and formidable right back Achraf Hakimi, Morocco are taking on the country that once colonised them: France.

The final African team in the World Cup beat co-hosts Canada 3-0 to progress.

It's a big rematch. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar — the first to be held in an Arab country — Morocco became the first Arab-speaking country to reach the quarter-finals.

However, they did one better and advanced to the semi-finals, where they lost 2-0 to France, ultimately finishing fourth in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Les Bleus came achingly close to glory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, coming second to Argentina. This time, France won't settle until they've lifted the Cup.

Star striker Kylian Mbappé has scored seven goals so far this tournament and is sitting in joint-second on the Golden Boot tally.

It's all such good stuff.

If you're tuning into the World Cup for the first time or keen for a refresher, we've got some handy guides:

— Madeleine Wedesweiler

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