How to Watch the France-Morocco Quarterfinal on FOX with Sling
Kylian Mbappé and France take on AFCON champs Morocco in the first quarterfinal at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Here’s a preview, plus how to watch the match live on FOX with Sling TV.
Talk about putting the “MMMM…” in Mbappé.
Through his first five matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, French superstar Kylian Mbappé has scored a tournament-leading 7 goals, plus two assists. That delicious stat line puts him squarely in the driver’s seat to win the coveted Golden Boot award and a strong claim as the world’s best player.
But all of his amazing stats will mean little if France can’t get past Morocco in the first of four quarterfinal matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™. The AFCON champions have been among the best defensive teams at the tournament, allowing just one goal each to Brazil and the Netherlands in their hard-fought journey to the quarterfinals.
The France-Morocco quarterfinal match takes place Thursday, July 9 at 4:00 PM ET on FOX. Here’s a preview of their rematch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup semifinal, plus details on how to watch all quarterfinal matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX with Sling.
How to Watch the the FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX with Sling
English-language coverage of all remaining matches at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ is exclusive to FOX. FOX is available to Sling Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue subscribers in the markets listed below:
If you live in one of these markets, you can watch all remaining games at the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with a subscription to Sling Select, Sling Essentials & Select, Sling Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue. You can also use your Sling credentials to sign in to the FOX One app and watch the FOX channels included in your Sling subscription. Packages include Sling Select, Sling Blue, Sling Orange & Blue, and Sling Essentials & Select.
Click the link below to subscribe to Sling Select, and follow this link for complete details on how to watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ on FOX and FS1 with Sling!
Can You Watch the FIFA World Cup 2026™ With Sling Day Passes?
No. FOX and FS1 are available with a subscription to Sling Blue or Essentials. 1, 3, and 7 Day Passes only offer programming in the Sling Orange package.
France vs. Morocco: Tactical Authority Meets the Possession Revolution
https://youtu.be/7lzFK_oFk_Q?si=oLct6MicO9LOZrrP
Didier Deschamps has his team operating with terrifying, cold-blooded authority. Les Bleus have steamrolled through North America, winning all five of their tournament matches and slamming home 14 goals along the way. After comfortably handling Group I with dominant displays over Senegal (3-1), Iraq (3-0), and Norway (4-1), they easily brushed Sweden aside 3-0 in the Round of 32.
They then showed immense championship maturity in a physical, grueling 1-0 Round of 16 victory against Paraguay, locked down courtesy of an ice-cold 70th-minute penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Anchored by the world-class, imposing center-back pairing of William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano, France absolutely lives to dominate transitional moments. However, their passive defensive block ranks a lowly 20th in progressive passes allowed—a statistical wrinkle that could offer exploitable gaps if Morocco's midfield line can move the ball cleanly.
Morocco, conversely, has completely shed their old skin. No longer just a rigid, defensive counter-attacking side, the Atlas Lions have evolved under new head coach Mohamed Ouahbi into a highly sophisticated, possession-based machine. They navigated Group C with poise, picking up 7 points—headlined by a historic 1-1 draw with Brazil—before pulling off a monumental Round of 32 shocker by bouncing the Netherlands on penalties (3-2) in a masterclass where they completed a staggering 801 passes.
They carried that momentum right into the Round of 16, executing a slick 3-0 dismantling of co-hosts Canada. Morocco's greatest asset in this tournament is their sheer tactical elasticity; they are entirely comfortable absorbing pressure in a compact low block, yet possess the technical engine to execute fluid, lightning-fast flank transitions to punish overcommitted opponents.
Player to Watch — France
Kylian Mbappé: The 27-year-old French captain and generational forward is putting together an absolute clinic in North America. Mbappé currently sits as the joint-top scorer in the World Cup golden boot race, racking up 7 goals in 5 games, fueled by consecutive group-stage braces and that high-pressure winner against Paraguay. His frightening acceleration, short-space agility, and devastating finishing make him the ultimate weapon in the final third. As the standalone record holder for the most World Cup knockout-stage goals in football history, his ability to blow a game wide open in a single transition sequence will be Morocco’s ultimate defensive test.
Player to Watch — Morocco
Achraf Hakimi: Morocco's world-class captain and PSG superstar right-back faces the monumental task of directly neutralizing his close club teammate, Mbappé. Hakimi serves as the primary engine driving Morocco’s transitional identity, providing endless overlapping energy and elite, pinpoint service down the right wing. Throughout this unbeaten tournament run, Hakimi has delivered when it matters most—tallying a crucial goal and an assist in the 4-2 group-stage win over Haiti and bagging the definitive penalty to eliminate the Dutch. His rare blend of world-class recovery pace and defensive composure makes him entirely irreplaceable to Ouahbi’s system.
Prediction
Expect a razor-thin, deeply physical encounter where close friendships and profound cultural ties are cast aside for 90 minutes. Morocco’s incredibly organized defensive block is going to frustrate France's star-studded front line early on. However, France's absurd bench depth and unparalleled individual quality in wide-open spaces should ultimately tip the scales late in the second half.
Prediction: France 2, Morocco 1
France-Morocco Quarterfinal Odds
As of the Tuesday before the match, France is seen as heavy -400 favorites to advance past Morocco, according to DraftKings. The African underdogs currently have +300 odds to win (meaning you’d win $300 on a $100 bet). As for their long-term prospects, France is the overall favorite to win the tournament at +175 odds, with Morocco a longshot at +2700.