France's Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates scoring the opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
The first World Cup quarterfinal kicks off Thursday in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where France faces Morocco for a place in the semifinals. France is chasing a third straight trip to the World Cup final. Africa Cup champion Morocco is looking to build on its historic run after becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals in 2022, when it was knocked out by France 2-0.
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France’s Kylian Mbappe, center, scores the opening goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)Morocco goalkeeper Sassine Bounou (1) saves a penalty from France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) is fouled by Morocco’s Noussair Mazraoui (3) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)France’s Lucas Digne tries to tackle Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, left, during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)A balloon floats on the field as Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, left, battles for the ball with France’s Adrien Rabiot during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou (1) looks back as France’s Ousmane Dembele (7) scores their second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)France’s Ousmane Dembele (7) celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)France’s Ousmane Dembele celebrates after scoring his side’s second goal during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)France’s Manu Kone and Morocco’s Neil El Aynaoui (24) battle for the ball during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) in action between Morocco’s Issa Diop (14) and Neil El Aynaoui (24) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)France’s Adrien Rabiot (14) battles for a header with Morocco’s Bilal El Khannouss (23) during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) reacts to being tripped by Morocco’s Issa Diop, left, during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Morocco’s Gessime Yassine (16) reacts during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (2) and France’s Desire Doue (20) hug after the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)France head coach Didier Deschamps celebrates with France’s Kylian Mbappe at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)In this photo taken with slow shutter speed, fans celebrate as France defeats Morocco during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Thursday, July 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)A Morocco fan holds a flare in his mouth after the team lost the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between France and Morocco, Thursday, July 9, 2026, in the Queens borough of New York. (AP Photo/Ryan Murphy)
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