One of the most eagerly anticipated quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is just hours away. Morocco and France will meet once again in the knockout stages of a World Cup when they face off on Thursday at Gillette Stadium in Boston for a place in the semifinals.
As is customary on the eve of every match, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi spoke to the media, accompanied this time by Brahim Diaz, as the pair answered questions about the blockbuster showdown.
Addressing Morocco’s injury concerns, Ouahbi confirmed that the tournament’s leading Moroccan scorer, Ismael Saibari, who netted three goals before picking up an injury against Canada (3-0), will miss the clash with France.
“Everyone is available except Ismael Saibari. This game comes a little too soon for him. But I hope he won’t be ruled out for the rest of the tournament.”
Diaz was first to outline Morocco’s ambitions heading into the quarterfinal.
“We showed what we’re capable of in the second half (against Canada). We changed the way we played, got back into the game, and managed to win. That’s our mentality—we always want to keep moving forward. Tomorrow is a very important match, and everyone wants to be part of it and win."
Ouahbi, equally ambitious, dismissed suggestions that Morocco had already achieved its objective and stressed the mindset driving his squad.
“When people say we’ve already had a successful tournament, I always prefer to wait until the end before making that judgment. I don’t want to say that today because we can still go further. We’ve spoken about it with the staff and the players. We absolutely want to keep playing. We’re not going to listen to those who say, ‘What you’ve achieved so far is already incredible.’ Yes, it’s very good, but France are the favorites, and we’re going to do everything we can to win tomorrow. We have to approach this quarterfinal with one clear objective: qualifying for the semifinals, as if our backs were against the wall. I don’t like the idea that everything from now on is just a bonus. No. The only bonus is winning the World Cup.”
He also made it clear that Morocco would not abandon the identity that has brought them this far.
“As for our preparation, there won’t be any surprises. I have nothing to hide. I’m not someone who likes to surprise people for the sake of it. Anyone who has analyzed our matches knows we have a very clear idea of how we want to play. That identity has taken us this far, and it’s the one we intend to rely on to go even further.”
Asked whether Chemsdine Talbi could earn a place in the starting lineup against France, Ouahbi refused to give anything away.
“I keep saying that if you want to go far in a tournament, you need everyone. Players who don’t start know they’ll have the chance to come on and finish the game. We have players who start matches and others who make a real impact off the bench. That’s very positive for the group and gives us a lot of confidence. We know we can count on a large number of players. As for whether Chemsdine Talbi will play tomorrow—you’ll see."
Diaz also discussed the prospect of facing his Real Madrid teammates Kylian Mbappe and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
“Mbappé and Tchouaméni are two outstanding players. We’ll face each other tomorrow, and each of us will want to win. As for me, I want to help my team secure victory and reach the semifinals. I’m happy when I can make the difference in a winning team. I want to take responsibility and embrace the pressure. Everyone wants to play in this match, and I’m 100% ready. I truly believe we can get a positive result.”
Ouahbi then turned his attention to France’s full-backs.
“France’s two full-backs are top players who represent top clubs. The duels will be difficult, but when we have the ball, we have to make life difficult for them, find spaces, and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way. If we play our football, we can beat any team.”
For Diaz, Morocco’s experience on the biggest stage will be crucial.
“We have experience too. We’ve already played in major matches. I trust my team. I’ve seen that both the starters and the substitutes can come on and make a difference. Tomorrow we’ll try to show what we’re capable of. We have to be better than our opponents and, above all, more clinical.”
The Real Madrid midfielder then reflected on his role within the national team and the “complete confidence” he has in his teammates.
“My objective is to contribute to the team and be one of the players capable of making the difference in attack. As I’ve said before, we have an excellent squad with very good players. Tomorrow we’ll face one of the favorites to win this World Cup. But if we’ve made it this far, it’s because we’re also one of the teams capable of competing with the best. Tomorrow we want to win and produce our best performance. I’m very confident. I have complete confidence in this team, in every one of my teammates, and in myself. I’m convinced we’ll give everything we’ve got in this quarterfinal.”
Asked about Achraf Hakimi’s role within the squad, Diaz had nothing but praise for his captain.
“I don’t think I need to introduce him anymore because he proves his quality in every match. I was so happy after our victory that I couldn’t stop celebrating. I’m happy to play alongside him and to share these victories with him. I’m also very happy to be part of this team because we all support one another and do everything we can to carry out the coach’s instructions. It’s a privilege to be the teammate of a player like Achraf Hakimi.”
Ouahbi also spoke about Royal Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, who has accompanied the team throughout the tournament and whom he described as " very important. "
“He’s driven by genuine passion and works incredibly hard. I don’t even know how he does it—he barely sleeps and dedicates an enormous amount of time to his work. He has an incredible passion. He never counts the hours, and it’s really impressive to see him constantly traveling while still finding time to spend with us. He’s the president of our federation, but he’s also our biggest supporter. That means a lot to us. I always appreciate it when he comes to see us because he brings such positive energy. He’s the first person to tell us we can win and to remind us that anything is possible. He plays a very important role for us, and I hope he’ll keep making those trips for a few more days."
Regarding Thursday’s officiating, Ouahbi said he had complete confidence in the refereeing team.
“As far as the referees are concerned, we’re talking about experienced officials, and that’s exactly what you want in matches like this. We’re completely comfortable with that. We had a Dutch referee who did a good job, and it’s simply not something we discuss. We focus on playing our best football. The referees in our previous matches, including against Canada, also handled things well. We have absolutely no complaints.”
With four assists—the second-highest tally in the tournament—Diaz insisted that personal statistics are of little importance to him.
“It’s not about individuals. It doesn’t matter who scores or who provides the assist. Tomorrow, all I want is to win.”
Diaz also had a message for young players dreaming of one day representing Morocco.
“To the young players who dream of becoming footballers, I’d say always believe in yourselves. I also dreamed of playing in a World Cup, and today I’m representing Morocco in this competition. You have to work hard, never give up, and always believe in your dreams.”
He also said he is ready to "make history" with the Atlas Lions.
“It’s an incredible feeling to see the whole world taking an interest in a team like ours. Morocco isn’t just this World Cup team—it also includes all our youth national teams. The level is high across every age group. The players coming through the youth ranks have what it takes to join this team and write their own chapter in the history of the national side. Making headlines and being in the spotlight is something incredible for us. We want to keep making history."
Ouahbi concluded by reflecting on Morocco’s growing global support and the importance of the team’s " 12th man. "
“We know an entire nation is behind us—and not only Moroccans. I’ve said it before: anyone who supports Morocco is welcome. We have supporters all over the world, and we’re very proud of that. Moroccans everywhere, whether in Europe or elsewhere, are behind us. They don’t need to tell us—we feel their energy and all the positive momentum they create around the team. It’s not something I like to dwell on with the players. We’re aware of it, but I don’t want to keep reminding them that 44 million people are behind them. The most important thing is to stay calm, clear-headed, and focused on our football. That’s how we’ll produce great performances on the pitch. But in difficult moments, we have to think about all those supporters and remember that we’re not alone—that we’re fighting for an entire people and an entire country. That’s what gives us the strength to push even harder."
