​Mike Maignan, Adrien Rabiot, and Manu Koné are included for France in the first World Cup quarter-final against Morocco, with Roma’s Neil El Aynaoui and Anass Salah-Eddine also earning spots in Didier Deschamps’ lineup. The match kicks off in Boston at 21:00 UK time (22:00 CEST), and the victor will advance to face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Adrien Rabiot, number 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 favorites to lift the trophy, having been finalists four years earlier and having won every game so far in this tournament, though they had to wait until the final moments to seal a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16.
There is strong representation from Serie A, with Milan’s Maignan and Rabiot in the squad, while Roma’s Manu Koné keeps his place despite Aurelien Tchouaméni shaking off a muscular injury. Striker Marcus Thuram returns to the bench after his recent fitness concerns. Désiré Doué is preferred to Bradley Barcola in the starting XI, joining the in-form Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembélé, and Kylian Mbappé.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JULY 04: Mike Maignan, number 16, of France celebrates after the 1-0 victory in 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 should not be underestimated, as they remain officially unbeaten in 34 matches, though there is ongoing legal action from Senegal regarding who actually won the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations final.
Roma have two players in the squad this time, midfielder El Aynaoui and left-back Anass Salah-Eddine, who spent last season returning from a loan spell. Bayern Munich star Ismael Saibari is out injured after limping off in the victory over Canada. The roster features familiar names from Serie A in various capacities, including former Milan midfielder Brahim Diaz, Inter’s Achraf Hakimi, and former Fiorentina man Sofyan Amrabat, who have all contributed to the tactical depth of the team.
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
For SEO clarity and specificity, the piece emphasizes the prominent inclusion of Maignan, Rabiot, and Koné from Serie A, the presence of Roma’s El Aynaoui and Salah-Eddine, and the surrounding context of the quarter-final, including timing, venue, and potential semi-final opponents.