France vs Morocco LIVE: World Cup 2026 quarter-final build-up, lineups, prediction & updates

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France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

I think one of the great things about this World Cup is that all of the big players have turned up.

Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Harry Kane all going at it for the Golden Boot.

Just what we want to see.

A Golden Boot race for the ages - but who will come out on top?

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Prudent Nsengiyumva

BBC Sport journalist

Some Golden Boot races build slowly. Others are shaped by one runaway scorer. This one is different.

This is a Golden Boot race for the ages, a four-way sprint featuring Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi and Harry Kane, all hitting numbers that would comfortably win most modern tournaments.

Double-figure scoring at a World Cup is one of football's rarest feats. Only a handful of players in nearly a century of competition have ever reached 10 or more goals at a single tournament. Yet here we are in 2026 with four forwards pushing towards that territory at the same time.

The pace of scoring alone marks this out as something special. Messi leads the way with eight. Mbappe and Haaland sit on seven goals, with Kane just behind on six.

Read more on the big four contenders as the tournament heads into the quarter-final stage

'France are too strong'

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Nigel Reo-Coker

Former Aston Villa midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

I think it is going to be a tight game, but my worry and concern is that France are too strong.

It is the strength in depth that they can come in from off the bench. There is so much talent in this French side.

LISTEN: The making of Mbappe and Messi

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

BBC Sounds

Generational talents Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi are neck and neck in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot. Remember, both are also aiming to win the trophy for a second time.

If you want to hear more about their careers, from the pundits and players who know them best, then you can check out these podcast series:

Sporting Giants: Kylian Mbappe

Sporting Giants: Messi v Ronaldo

The Sporting Giants feed also has series on Pep Guardiola, Mo Salah and Sir Alex Ferguson. Maybe there'll be one on Harry Kane soon?

get involved

Get Involved - can Morocco do it?

Use 'Get involved' to have your say

This is where I need you guys to tell me your thoughts and feelings about this game.

Where is it won and lost? Can Morocco cause an upset and knock out the tournament favourites?

Let us know!

'Hardest game in the competition'

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Hassan Kachloul

Former Morocco international speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live

It is probably the hardest game so far in the competition [for Morocco].

There is something positive because I think the six remaining nations will support Morocco as France scares the hell out of everybody.

Regarding the Morocco starting line-up. I feel Mohamed Ouahbi went a bit defensive. Anass Salah-Eddine on the left is a good left-back, but I feel he is a bit slow.

With the pace of Ousmane Dembele, I think that's the area that we get in trouble.

'All of the Moroccan people want to win this trophy'

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Morocco

Morocco

Morocco defender Zakaria El Ouahdi speaking pre-match: "We feel good. I feel good to play this beautiful game against a big team. I think it will be a great game. First of all, it is mentally, that is the most important [thing], and then after it is who runs the most and who is smart in the head. We are ready, I think they are ready as well, because we all know that a win qualifies you for the semi-final.

"It would mean a lot. All of the Moroccan people, we as well, want to win this big trophy. It means a lot for everyone, so we are going to do our best possible."

Are France the favourites?

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Ian Wright said that France are "one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen."

And it's hard to disagree, to be fair. But we all know football is a funny old game and it's never as cut and dry as that.

'Morocco in a better position to take on France'

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

Maher Mezahi

African football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

At the Qatar World Cup, it felt like the wheels were falling off from a physical fitness point of view, but it is not the same here.

Mohamed Ouahbi has said everyone is fit for this match except for Ismael Saibari.

He feels like they're much fitter and much sharper and that they're in a better position to take on an improved France side.

France fail with Olise appeal

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

France's win over Paraguay was quite the game, but not for footballing reasons.

The South American side turned up for a scrap and they almost got one.

Michael Olise picked up a very soft yellow card for a clash with Matias Galarza and France's appeal to overturn it was rejected.

So a booking for Olise today means he'll miss the semi-final - if France make it there.

Run it back

France v Morocco (21:00 BST)

For those of you who remember, this is a repeat of the 2022 World Cup semi-final and it was France who came out on top in a 2-0 win.

It was a huge shock to see Morocco go that deep into the tournament but this time around, it's almost an expectation.

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