France to face Morocco in World Cup 2026 quarter-finals
via Le Matin1 min read
France has advanced to the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals after defeating Paraguay. Captain Kylian Mbapp茅 scored the decisive goal from a penalty in the 70th minute. Earlier, Morocco secured their spot by beating Canada 3-0, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice and Soufiane Rahimi adding another goal for the Atlas Lions. France and Morocco are set to play each other on July 9 in Boston, with a semi-final spot at stake.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
French coach Didier Deschamps stated that Morocco is among the best national teams globally, highlighting their historic performance at the previous World Cup in Doha where they reached the semi-finals. Deschamps noted that Morocco's strong showing against Canada and their progression to the World Cup quarter-finals were not by chance, confirming their quality. Morocco is set to face France in the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on July 9 in Boston, competing for a spot in the semi-finals.
Azzedine Ounahi delivered a high-level performance, scoring two decisive goals in the second half against Canada. His first goal opened the scoring, and his second put Morocco on the path to a historic qualification. A third goal by Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory for Mohamed Ouahbi's team. Ounahi's influence and offensive effectiveness in this knockout match earned him the man of the match trophy. He is a product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy, which has developed several Moroccan international players. With this win, Morocco advances in World Cup 2026 and will face France in the quarterfinals.
Morocco's Atlas Lions overcame a well-organized Canadian defense to secure a victory in their World Cup match. Azzedine Ounahi scored a double in the 50th and 82nd minutes, with Rahimi adding a third goal in the 98th minute to seal the win. Despite Canada's early offensive pressure, including a one-on-one save by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Morocco managed to break the deadlock after halftime. Coach Ouahbi made one change to his starting lineup, bringing in Radouane Halhal for the injured Chadi Riad. An early injury forced another change, with Rahimi replacing Saibari in the 21st minute. Ounahi's first goal came from a low free-kick by Hakimi. After taking the lead, Morocco controlled the pace, and further substitutions saw Chamsdine Talbi and Sofyan Amrabat enter the game. As Canada pushed for an equalizer, more spaces opened up, allowing Ounahi to score his second goal from a play initiated by Brahim Diaz. Rahimi nearly scored earlier, hitting the crossbar, before ultimately netting Morocco's third goal. Morocco will now face the winner of the match between France and Paraguay in the quarterfinals.