The World Cup has a remarkable ability to completely alter the course of careers. There is no grander stage in the game, meaning impressive performances garner the kind of acclaim and attention that is simply not possible in any other arena. Consequently, the transfer market tends to go wild in and around World Cups, as clubs scramble to snap up previously hidden gems or suddenly established stars.
Kylian Mbappe admitted he lost focus before missing a penalty against Morocco after a lengthy VAR delay caused confusion over whether the spot-kick would stand. The France captain also played down fears over an ankle knock and insisted he will be ready for the World Cup semi-final.
France manager Didier Deschamps has addressed injury concerns surrounding captain Kylian Mbappe following his late substitution during the World Cup quarter-final victory against Morocco. The Real Madrid forward was withdrawn after picking up an ankle knock, prompting the coaching staff to carefully manage his fitness ahead of the semi-finals.
Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi has expressed heavy frustration following his side's World Cup quarter-final elimination against France, claiming the opening goal should have been disallowed. The Atlas Lions manager insisted that a handball occurred in the build-up to Kylian Mbappe's strike, which completely disrupted his players' focus during the crucial Boston clash.
Ousmane Dembele has revealed how Kylian Mbappe’s instructions moments before France’s second goal proved decisive in their World Cup quarter-final victory over Morocco. The winger also reflected on his growing leadership role and insisted Les Bleus remain fully focused on their bid to go all the way.
France eased into the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup by seeing off a stubborn Morocco side in Boston on Thursday. Predictably, Kylian Mbappe was the protagonist, making amends for an abysmal first-half penalty miss by scoring a sublime goal and teeing up another for Ousmane Dembele as Les Bleus secured a comfortable 2-0 victory.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has delivered his definitive prediction for the final stages of the World Cup, backing France to lift the trophy once again. The current FIFA chief of global football development insists Didier Deschamps' men look unstoppable, while naming just one European powerhouse capable of halting Les Bleus' charge.
Morocco have suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial World Cup quarter-final tie against tournament favourites France on Thursday evening. Star forward Ismael Saibari has been ruled out of the clash in Boston after failing to recover from a hamstring injury sustained during the previous round.
Didier Deschamps has confirmed Michael Olise remains on a yellow card for the World Cup quarter-final against Morocco after FIFA rejected a formal appeal. The decision contrasts sharply with the governing body recently overturning a suspension for United States forward Folarin Balogun, adding further frustration as France map their potential route to the semi-final.
France head coach Didier Deschamps has confirmed that Kylian Mbappe remains fully focused and mentally strong ahead of their World Cup quarter-final against Morocco. The Les Bleus captain was targeted by vile racist abuse from a Paraguayan politician following France's narrow knockout victory over the South American side.
FIFA has sparked a massive debate ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals by appointing an entirely Argentine officiating crew for France's clash against Morocco. The decision has raised eyebrows across the footballing world given the intense recent history and bubbling rivalry between Les Bleus and the Albiceleste, as well as the fact Argentina are likely to be a main challenger to France winning the entire tournament.
We're in the end game now! With only eight teams remaining, the 2026 World Cup is about to reach boiling point, with the stakes unspeakably high for each of the quarter-finalists. The next round has a lot to live up, too, after this thrilling tournament continued to deliver moments of magic on an almost daily basis.
The 2026 World Cup has been a non-stop festival of football across North America, but fans looking for their daily fix on Wednesday will find the schedule surprisingly empty. After a breathless round of 16 that saw the world's heavyweights battle for survival, FIFA has implemented a tactical pause in the proceedings.
Comprehensive match preview of France vs Morocco at World Cup 2026. We talk tactics, team news and more ahead of this quarter-final clash in Foxborough.
The battle to host the 2030 World Cup final is heating up as Spain officially throws its weight behind the Santiago Bernabeu and the newly renovated Camp Nou. While Morocco remains a serious contender with its ambitious infrastructure projects, Spanish football officials are adamant that the tournament's climax belongs on Iberian soil.
Alphonso Davies has opened up on the physical and emotional toll of Canada’s World Cup exit, describing the tournament as one of the most difficult periods of his professional life. Despite high expectations for the co-hosts, the Bayern Munich star was largely reduced to a spectator role as injury curtailed his involvement on the global stage.
Morocco’s World Cup triumph over Canada was marred by a serious injury to star midfielder Ismael Saibari, who was forced off early in the first half. The 25-year-old, who recently secured a high-profile move to German giants Bayern Munich, appeared devastated as he left the pitch.
Jesse Marsch struck a defiant tone after Canada's World Cup dream came to an end with a 3-0 defeat to Morocco, insisting his side outplayed their opponents for long spells, while also revealing why Alphonso Davies was left as an unused substitute for the crucial last-16 clash.
Canada pushed Morocco, but missed chances, one costly mistake, and late punishment from Azzedine Ounahi and Soufiane Rahimi ended Jesse Marsch’s historic World Cup run in Houston.
Four nations made debuts at the 2026 World Cup, with Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan gracing the grandest stage in international football for the first time. It was the tournament with the most newcomers since 2006 and Cape Verde achieved the feat of ending a 16-year wait for a debutant to reach the knockout stages, before succumbing to Lionel Messi's Argentina in a classic.
Jesse Marsch calls preparing for Morocco a "gory, horrible nightmare" as Canada chase a historic World Cup quarterfinal berth. GOAL breaks down five keys.
Ismael Saibari has officially arrived at Bayern Munich, but the Morocco international isn't just making headlines for his big-money price tag. The former PSV star has chosen an unusual squad number for his debut season at the Allianz Arena, and the decision is rooted in a deeply personal tribute to a close friend.
Ronald Koeman has sensationally stepped down as Netherlands head coach following their dramatic 2026 World Cup exit at the hands of Morocco. The former Barcelona boss leaves his post amid a cloud of disappointment and a shocking report of racist abuse suffered by some of his players.