​FC Bayern will be prominently represented in the opening stretch of the 2026 World Cup quarter-final clash between France and Morocco. The squad will miss new signing Ismael Saibari, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving him unable to join Bilal El Khannouss and the rest of the Atlas Lions in the action. Saibari, 25, had been standout for Morocco’s campaign through the group and knockout stages, shining as the key attacking presence until the injury sustained during the Round of 16 win over Canada.
Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss will again feature for Morocco, reinforcing their wide options and creativity. His participation could be crucial, though a yellow card in this match would carry a suspension into any potential semi-final, adding a layer of risk for the youngster. On the French side, Michael Olise must also navigate discipline carefully, as FIFA’s disciplinary committee refused to rescind the yellow card he received in Paraguay’s game, meaning any subsequent caution would keep him at risk for a suspension.
In the tournament’s stat lines, FC Bayern’s attacker leads the assists chart with five assists from five games, underscoring the Bavarian side’s ongoing influence in the competition. On the defensive side, Dayot Upamecano has been a standout, sitting atop several defensive metrics as the tournament progresses, reflecting his pivotal role for France at the heart of their back line.
Beyond the Bundesliga-bright stars, the two starting lineups feature four players with past German football experience, highlighting the cross-border ties in this high-stakes match. Morocco lines up with captain Achraf Hakimi and fellow fullback Noussair Mazraoui, who both bring former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern pedigree to the fold. In Didier Deschamps’ France XI, ex-Gladbach midfielder Manu Kone and Ousmane Dembélé—who won the DFB-Pokal during his one-season spell with Dortmund nearly a decade ago—are included in the starting lineup, reflecting the continued influence of German football experience at this stage of the tournament.
France XI: Maignan; Digne, Saliba, Upamecano, Kounde; Kone, Rabiot; Doué, Olise, Dembélé; Mbappé
Morocco XI: Bono; Mazraoui, Salah-Eddine, Diop, Hakimi; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Talbi, Ounahi, Diaz; El Khannouss
This match upsets traditional expectations while highlighting the enduring connections between the two nations and the broader German football lineage represented across the two squads. With Saibari sidelined, Morocco will rely on El Khannouss and a supporting cast to provide the creative spark in the final third, while France will lean on its own mix of star attackers and seasoned defenders to push for a place in the semi-finals. The opening quarter-final between France and Morocco thus promises to be a tactical and technically rich contest, driven by the magnetic talents of players with deep ties to German football history.