3 min readUpdated: Jul 5, 2026 11:43 AM ISTFrance will take on Morocco in the qf of World Cup 2026. (AP)Two-time FIFA World Cup champions France moved a step closer to completing their unfinished business from 2022 after overcoming a surprisingly tough Paraguay side in the Round of 16 in Philadelphia to book their place in the quarterfinals.The win made Les Bleus the second team to confirm their spot in the last eight, as the World Cup 2026 gets its first quarterfinal matchup.The road to the semifinals and beyond, however, will not be easy for Didier Deschamps’ side. Led by goalscoring machine Kylian Mbappé, France will now face an African powerhouse in Morocco, who thrashed Canada 3-0 in the first Round of 16 match earlier on Sunday in Houston.ALSO READ | Argentina’s road to World Cup final: Bracket, path & possible opponentsBoth sides will take on each other in the first quarterfinal at the Boston Stadium, Foxborough, on July 10 at 1:30 AM IST. France are not just a clear favourite to win the quarterfinal tie, but also among the frontrunners to lift the trophy and repeat their feats of 1998 and 2018.Les Bleus find themselves in the same bracket as the USA, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain. Should they beat Morocco in the quarterfinals, they will face one of these four sides in the semifinals. Hosts USA will take on Belgium in their Round of 16 clash, while two heavyweights – Portugal and Spain – will lock horns in one of the biggest ties of the tournament. The winners of those two games will face each other, with one of them set to meet either France or Morocco in the semifinals.World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal ScheduleMatch NoDateRound of 16 MatchTime (IST)Venue97July 10France vs Morocco1:30 AMBoston98July 11USA/Belgium vs Portugal/Spain12:30 AMPhiladelphia99July 12Brazil/Norway vs Mexico/England2:30 AMEast Rutherford100July 12Argentina/Egypt vs Switzerland/Colombia6:30 AMMexico CityWorld Cup 2026 Round of 16 Match Schedule/ResultMatch NoDateRound of 16 MatchTime (IST)Venue89July 4Canada 0-3 Morocco10:30 PMHouston90July 5Paraguay 0-1 France2:30 AMPhiladelphia91July 6Brazil vs Norway1:30 AMEast Rutherford92July 6Mexico vs England5:30 AMMexico City93July 7Portugal vs Spain12:30 AMArlington94July 7United States vs Belgium5:30 AMSeattle95July 7Argentina vs Egypt9:30 PMAtlanta96July 8Switzerland vs Colombia/Ghana1:30 AMVancouver© IE Online Media Services Pvt LtdAdvertisementLoading Recommendations...Advertisement