​France will square off against Morocco on Thursday, July 9, to begin the World Cup quarterfinals. The French team, known as Les Bleus, has dominated their campaign so far, winning all five of their matches with Kylian Mbappé in sensational goal-scoring form, having tallied seven goals across those appearances. France is chasing a place in the World Cup final for the third straight tournament, having clinched the title in 2018 after defeating Croatia, and then exiting in a penalty shootout against Argentina in 2022.
As the quarterfinals approach, the French squad has been preparing for another deep run on the global stage. MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to host the World Cup final, a venue that will bring fans from across the world together to witness the climactic conclusion of the tournament. The roster for France features a blend of veterans and emerging talents, spanning every line from goalkeeping to attack, and reflecting the depth and breadth of talent available to head coach Didier Deschamps.
In goal, France has three strong options: Mike Maignan of AC Milan, Robin Riser of Lens, and Brice Samba of Rennes. In defense, the lineup includes established and versatile players such as Lucas Digne (Aston Villa), Malo Gusto (Chelsea), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (Al-Hilal), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace), William Saliba (Arsenal), and Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich). The midfield cadre features N’Golo Kanté (Fenerbahçe), Manu Koné (Roma), Adrien Rabiot (AC Milan), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), and Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG), offering a mix of endurance, creativity, and strategic balance.
France’s forward line boasts a wealth of attacking options, including Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Bradley Barcola (PSG), Rayan Cherki (Manchester City), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Désiré Doué (PSG), Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace), Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), and Marcus Thuram (Inter). This depth gives Deschamps a variety of tactical approaches to deploy against Morocco, depending on form, opposition, and the specific demands of a knockout contest.
This World Cup quarterfinal match marks another chapter in France’s storied World Cup history. The national team has tasted success at the tournament in the past, lifting the trophy twice—first in 1998 and again in 2018—establishing themselves as a perennial force on the global stage. The USA TODAY app remains a primary source for in-depth coverage, delivering fast, award-winning reporting, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper, and more to fans eager to stay informed about France’s quarterfinal push and the broader tournament narrative.
For fans seeking further context on purchasing World Cup Final tickets for the 2026 tournament in New York, recent coverage offers guidance on how to secure access to the championship stage, along with ongoing updates about venues, schedules, and team developments. The France roster for the quarterfinal against Morocco underscores the team’s ambition to advance, capitalize on their depth of talent, and continue their pursuit of World Cup glory.