World Cup 2026 quarter final: France vs. Morocco with Milan and Roma stars | OneFootball

Serie A players Mike Maignan, Adrien Rabiot and Manu Koné start for France in the first World Cup quarter-final against Morocco and Roma’s Neil El Aynaoui and Anass Salah-Eddine.

It kicks off in Boston at 21.00 UK time (22.00 CEST) and the winners will go on to face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Adrien Rabiot #14 of France arrives at the stadium before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

France are the absolute favourites to win the tournament, having been the beaten finalists four years ago, and winning every match so far, even if they had to leave it late to defeat Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16.

There is plenty of Serie A representation, including Milan pair Maignan and Rabiot, while Roma midfielder Manu Koné keeps his spot despite Aurelien Tchaouameni shaking off a muscular injury.

Inter striker Marcus Thuram returns to the bench after his injury concerns.

Désiré Doué is preferred to Bradley Barcola in the starting XI, alongside untouchable Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Mike Maignan #16 of France celebrates after the 1-0 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

Morocco are not to be underestimated, because they are officially unbeaten in 34 matches, although there is still legal action from Senegal over who really won the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Roma have two players in the squad, midfielder El Aynaoui and left-back Anass Salah-Eddine, who spent last season out on loan.

Bayern Munich star Ismael Saibari is out injured after limping off in the win over Canada.

Former Serie A players include ex-Milan man Brahim Diaz, Achraf Hakimi at Inter, and former Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat.

France vs. Morocco line-ups

France: Maignan; Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Koné, Rabiot; Dembélé, Olise, Doué; Mbappé

Morocco: Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Mazraoui, Salah-Eddine; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Talbi, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Brahim Diaz