The Round of 16 matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026 have concluded. The tournament now moves to the quarter-finals, with the first Quarter Final of Fifa World 2026 set for 10 July.
France and Morocco have earned their places in the first quarter-final of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be played on 10 July (Indian Time). France advanced after defeating Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the winning penalty. Morocco reached the last eight with an impressive 3-0 victory over Canada, thanks to a brilliant brace from Azzedine Ounahi and another goal from Soufiane Rahimi. Both teams now prepare for a high-stakes battle for a place in the semi-finals.
How France Reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals
France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia. The match was closely contested, but France stayed patient and finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. Captain Kylian Mbappé confidently converted a penalty after a late foul on Désiré Doué, scoring his 19th World Cup goal and seventh of the tournament. France controlled most of the game, creating several chances and limiting Paraguay to just one shot on target.
With this victory, France recorded their fifth straight win in the tournament and advanced to face Morocco in the quarter-finals. Positive: Strong defense, excellent ball control, Mbappé’s match-winning penalty, created more chances, and secured a fifth consecutive World Cup victory. Negative: Missed several scoring opportunities, depended on a penalty for the only goal, and lacked clinical finishing from open play.
How Morocco Reached the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals
Morocco secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Canada in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 to book their place in the quarter-finals. After a goalless first half, Azzedine Ounahi opened the scoring in the 50th minute with a powerful long-range strike from an Achraf Hakimi free-kick. Ounahi doubled the lead in the 82nd minute after a fine pass from Brahim Díaz. As Canada pushed forward in search of a goal, Morocco took advantage of the spaces left in defense, with Soufiane Rahimi adding a third goal in stoppage time.
The win marked Morocco’s second consecutive World Cup quarter-final appearance, making them the first African nation to reach the last eight in more than one World Cup. Positive: Excellent defensive organization, clinical finishing, strong counter-attacks, Ounahi’s brilliant performance, and smart game management throughout the match. Negative: Slow start in the first half, struggled to create early chances, and allowed Canada to dominate the opening stages before taking control.
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