The Atlas Lions are now fully focused on their biggest test of the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far. After their impressive 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men continued their preparations in Boston, where they will face France on Thursday, July 9, at 9 p.m. (Moroccan time) at Gillette Stadium for a place in the semifinals.
A day after arriving in Massachusetts, the coaching staff implemented a tailored training program to help manage the players’ workload following the physical demands of the round-of-16 victory.
As is customary at major tournaments, the players who started against Canada and logged heavy minutes followed an indoor recovery program. The starters therefore did not take part in Monday’s collective training session.
Meanwhile, the substitutes who came on during the match, along with the players who remained on the bench, returned to the pitch under the supervision of Mohamed Ouahbi and his staff. The session took place on Monday, July 6, at the New England Revolution Training Center, beginning at 10 p.m. (Moroccan time). It formed part of the national coach’s preparation plan to keep the squad match-ready ahead of the quarterfinal against Les Bleus.
One of the main talking points, however, remains the condition of Ismael Saibari. The Morocco forward, who was forced off early against Canada after experiencing muscle discomfort, underwent a second MRI scan on Monday to assess the extent of the injury. According to early reports, the injury appears to be less serious than initially feared.
The day before, before departing Houston for Boston, the Atlas Lions had limited their activities to a light recovery session following their commanding victory over Canada.
With three days to go before the clash with France, the medical and coaching staff are closely monitoring every player’s condition. The objective is clear: to have the strongest squad possible available as Morocco looks to secure another place in the World Cup semifinals.
