The winner between France and Morocco will play against the winner between Spain and Belgium in the semifinals.
We use Google Cloud Translation Services. Google requires we provide the following disclaimer relating to use of this service:
This service may contain translations powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, expressed or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement.
As they enter the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, France and Morocco will compete in Boston at 1:45 a.m. on Friday. This is also the first match of the final eight of this World Cup.
This tournament, played for the first time with 48 teams, has already lasted a month, during which 280 goals have been scored in 96 matches. These eight teams are dreaming of winning the title in the final to be held on July 19.
The match between France and Morocco at Gillette Stadium also brings back memories of their past. Ahead of this high-profile match, France has urged its supporters to watch the game against African champions Morocco with restraint. In particular, security concerns have been raised in various cities in France.
Morocco gained independence from France in 1956. The relationship between the two countries has generally remained stable. Thousands of Moroccan and Moroccan-origin citizens live in France. Many members of the current Moroccan national team playing in the World Cup were born in France and play for clubs there. Morocco’s captain Achraf Hakimi was born in Spain, but he plays for the French champion team Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). 
When France defeated Morocco in the 2002 semifinal, the celebrations around Paris were peaceful. Before that, Morocco had already made history as the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals.
However, security personnel in France are very alert regarding this match. “I urge everyone to act with a sense of responsibility; this should remain only a celebration,” France’s Sports Minister Marina Ferrari told France Info broadcaster.
After PSG defeated Arsenal in the Champions League final on May 30 to win the title for the second consecutive time, French authorities arrested 280 people in Paris due to riots and damage. 
Meanwhile, if Morocco wins in Boston, they will reach the semifinals for the second consecutive time. A loss for France would end coach Didier Deschamps’ 14-year tenure. After France’s journey in this World Cup ends, Deschamps has already announced he will step down from the national team. Deschamps is one of only three people to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach.
“I haven’t even thought about that; I’m only thinking about how the team can do well. I’m focused on the Moroccan team and only thinking about how our team can perform better,” he said. Under his coaching, France won the title in 2018. 
Photos: AFP.
The match will be officiated by Argentine referee Facundo Tello, and there is debate on social media that this could harm the French team. France and Argentina played in the 2022 World Cup, where Argentina won in a penalty shootout. Deschamps completely dismissed the question of whether France’s journey would end because of the referee.
Deschamps said, “There are pros and cons to any decision; it just depends on which side you’re on when you watch it. But our opponent is Morocco; I don’t consider the referee an opponent.”
The winner of France vs. Morocco will play the winner of Spain vs. Belgium in the semifinals.
