​The 2026 World Cup has reached its first quarterfinals, with the match today, July 9, featuring France, the top-ranked team, against Morocco. A note of lingering rivalry adds spice to the clash, given that Morocco was eliminated by France in the previous World Cup edition. In that 2022 tournament, Morocco finished in fourth place while France secured second place overall.
Here’s what you should know about the match. The kickoff is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. local time, and the game will be played at Boston Stadium. According to FIFA rankings, France sits at number 1, while Morocco is ranked sixth. In betting markets, the Kalshi platform shows France favored with a 77% probability of victory against Morocco’s 23%. Similarly, Polymarket also leans toward France with a 62% probability, while a draw accounts for 25% and Morocco for 14%. If the game ends in a draw, the teams will proceed to a penalty shootout to decide the winner.
From a statistical perspective, FIFA’s data highlights the two teams as top offenses among the remaining squads by goals scored: France with 14 goals and Morocco with 10. All times referenced are in Eastern Time. The schedule for the quarterfinals is as follows: Thursday, July 9 at 4 p.m., France versus Morocco; Friday, July 10 at 3 p.m., Spain versus Belgium. Additional matches include Saturday, July 11 at 5 p.m., Norway versus England. The tournament continues on Tuesday, July 14 at 3 p.m. with the winners of the July 9 and July 10 games facing off, followed by Wednesday, July 15 at 3 p.m. with the winners of the July 11 matches. The semifinals culminate on Saturday, July 18 at 5 p.m. for the third-place game, and Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. for the final.
Juan Carlos Castillo, a New Jersey–based reporter for the USA Today network, covers weather and national events with a focus on impacts for New Jersey. This article originally appeared in the Asbury Park Press, offering a World Cup preview including quarterfinals schedule, dates, and viewing guidance tailored for SEO.
Note: This rewritten version preserves the essential facts and structure of the original while presenting them in a fresh, cohesive narrative.