France vs Morocco LIVE: Team news and latest updates ahead of World Cup 2026 quarter-final – UK Times

Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi; El Khannouss; Rahimi.

Subs: El Kajoui, Tagnaouti, Saadane, El Ouahdi, Riad, Belammari, Halhal, marabat, Saibari, El Mourabet, Yassine, Rahimi, Sbai, El Kaabi, Amaimouni.

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Doue; Mbappe.

Subs: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Konate, Hernandez, Hernandez, Lacroix, Tchouameni, Kante, Cherki, Zaire-Emery, Akliocueh, Thuram, Barcola, Mateta.

The line-ups should be released any time from the next five minutes, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides…

Aurelien Tchouameni remains a doubt having missed the win over Paraguay with a thigh strain, while reserve forward Marcus Thuram is also injured.

Ismael Saibari was substituted early in their last-16 clash against Canada because of a hamstring strain and Soufiane Rahimi could lead the line instead. Centre-back Chadi Riad is a doubt.

Some interesting news in the wake of the Folarin Balogun incident…

Jarell Quansah has been banned for two games by Fifa for his red card in England’s last-16 win over Mexico.

Quansah was sent off after VAR review following a sliding challenge which saw his studs go into the shin of an opposing player.

England were considering appealing the decision after Fifa suspended USA striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban, something that was lobbied for by US president Donald Trump.

Or, as they say here, prime-time TV. This was box office. Any director would have loved all of this, right up to the unique soundtrack of the Argentina fans.

This World Cup has produced some of the most dramatic football in years, from Messi’s tearful embrace with Lionel Scaloni after Argentina’s last-16 comeback against Egypt, to England’s rollercoaster win over Mexico. But alongside the drama on the pitch, a much bigger story has been building around Fifa itself.

From Gianni Infantino resignation calls to accusations of a “fixed” World Cup, Miguel Delaney will be answering all of your questions between 4pm and 5pm today – submit yours below:

The round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup is over, and it serves up a chance to delve into the numbers behind our quarter-finalists.

Who has taken more shots than Kylian Mbappe? Who has run further than Harry Kane? Who has pressed more than Elliot Anderson? Here is a look at some of the standout statistics from the last eight’s first five games at the World Cup.

France’s hopes of overturning a controversial yellow card for star midfielder Michael Olise have been dashed, with FIFA upholding the decision, coach Didier Deschamps confirmed on Wednesday. The ruling means Olise now faces a potential suspension for a World Cup semi-final should he receive another booking during France’s quarter-final clash with Morocco on Thursday.

“There was no change when it comes to Olise’s yellow card. We received FIFA’s decision this morning that the yellow card was maintained,” Deschamps stated. The French federation had appealed the infraction, issued to Olise in the 97th minute of their 1-0 victory over Paraguay following an altercation with Matías Galarza. While Galarza went to ground, video replays appeared to show Olise merely grasping the Paraguayan’s jersey before he toppled.

1. France 🇫🇷 ↔️

France are the team to beat at this World Cup. While their closest challengers on the other side of the bracket have, so far, been carried by one exceptional superstar, Didier Deschamps has put together a so far untouchable unit powered by its unleashed attacking ranks.

They hit 10 goals in the group stage before adding three more to no reply against Sweden to progress to the last 16 – and while their 1-0 win over Paraguay last time out wasn’t as emphatic as previous results, some leeway can be given due to the – let’s be honest – shameful tactics of the South American side.

Kylian Mbappe’s penalty winner took his all-time World Cup tally to 19 goals – sorry Mirsolav Klose, your record has been blown out of the water twice this tournament.