World Cup 2026: France v Morocco quarter-final buildup, Quansah hit with two-game ban – live

Scott Murray will bring you all the action from France v Morocco, the first quarter-final, which should be a helluva match. It kicks off in two hours:

That’s all from us on today’s buildup blog. Enjoy, and bye for now … and just before I go, don’t miss David Hytner with England’s Anthony Gordon:

Azzedine Ounahi’s double did for Canada in the last 16: Morocco won 3-0.

We’re a little over two hours from kick-off. People must be absolutely buzzing over in Rabat and across Morocco: not to mention the diaspora in France and beyond.

Can they pull off a World Cup shock for the ages and replicate their achievement of 2022, when they reached the last four – where they lost to France?

Here is Jonathan Wilson’s report of Morocco’s win in the last 16:

And here is a historical document from 2022:

Didier Deschamps has insisted he is not concerned by the ­appointment of Argentinian officials to oversee the World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco, with a repeat of the 2022 final against Argentina still possible. “We have to deal with it,” he said. “I trust the referees. Our opponent is Morocco, not the referee.”

The France head coach, though, is not a natural diplomat. This was a characteristically ­combative ­display from Deschamps, who spent at least 90 seconds at the end of his press conference explaining why he really did not have time to answer one final question, before reluctantly ­answering, grumpily. He could not resist a jibe at those, many in the north ­African media, who had ­criticised the French official ­François ­Letexier’s performance during the last-16 game between Argentina and Egypt on Tuesday.

It is five years since Gareth Southgate wrote his Dear England letter in response to a backlash against his players’ decision to “take the knee” before games. But the opening words – “It has been an extremely difficult year” – could have been written yesterday. From the rise of the Unite the Kingdom movement and the insidious Raise the Colours campaign, the xenophobic far right has sought new ways to promote an angry, nativist version of Englishness.

Some of the personnel may have changed, but England’s football players are again offering a compelling counter-narrative. Ezri Konsa, a giant in defence in the Azteca, was born in Newham to parents from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Nico O’Reilly has a Jamaican father and attended the same Manchester primary school as the World Cup winner Nobby Stiles. Bukayo Saka attends one of the many Black Christian churches that have been a feature of British life since the Windrush generation.

Silly me, I forgot to change the byline when I took over from Will at 4pm BST. This is quite literally Luke, not Will, and you’ve now got about 25 minutes to send me an incredibly insightful World Cup-related email.

Christian Pulisic suffered a microfracture and bone bruise in his leg in the United States’ 4-1 loss to Belgium in the World Cup last-16 on Monday, US Soccer announced.

Pulisic suffered the injury in the second half of the United States’ defeat by Belgium, and was removed shortly afterward. He had X-ray and MRI scans on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, which is expected to keep him out for several weeks. US Soccer said the federation and Milan working collaboratively on his rehab plan.

In terms of handy World Cup content, well, we’ve got loads of it.

Have a glance at the Golden Boot standings here: Messi, Mbappé, Haaland and Kane are all going into battle in the next few hours/days:

Is it the end of the road for Bruno Guimarães and Newcastle or are they destined to share at least one more adventure?

With Arsenal anxious to add Eddie Howe’s Brazil midfielder to their armoury and Guimarães receptive to such advances, it remains hard to predict whether Newcastle’s intransigent resistance will be broken.

“Re: email at 17:39 BST: Harry’s not quite right – Italy haven’t won the World Cup outside their own continent either,” emails Dylan.

“Apologies from pedant’s corner.”

Thanks Dylan and no need to apologise. Indeed, Italy have won it four times, at home in Italy (1934), France (1938), Spain (1982), and Germany (2006).

The lineup for the women’s singles final at Wimbledon has just been confirmed:

Do French hopes of reaching the semi-finals rest with this man?

Well no, it’s not only about Mbappé. This guy can play a bit too:

And Ousmane Dembélé is no slouch:

Our news report on Jarell Quansah’s ban can now be found with the original entry (17.32 BST), but here it is again for luck:

“Egregious, Andrew Giuliani?,” emails Charles Antaki.

“Executive director of the White House’s World Cup Task Force, apparently. Well, I had to look up the exact meaning of egregious, and the earliest one the OED lists, way back in 1566, is a happily pertinent one: “Your glorious title will conuince you to be but an egregious foole.”

“I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads,” is quite funny from Haaland, there. Doubtless some marvellous banter will be going back-and-forth between Haaland and his Manchester City mates such as John Stones.

Erling Haaland said facing England, the land of his birth, in the quarter-finals is extra special as the aims to extend Norway’s historic run.

In his first major international tournament, the Manchester City striker has propelled his country to the last eight with seven goals in four games, including a double to beat Brazil in the last 16.

Haaland was born in England when his dad, Alfe Inge Haaland, was playing for Leeds and he has spent the last four seasons at City.

“It’s a special game. I think for me it’s super special, because I play in England and I was born in England, and you also play against teammates and everything,” Haaland said. “It’s a funny game and it’s gonna be nice.”

In their first World Cup for 28 years, Norway have surpassed expectations largely thanks to Haaland’s eye for goal.

“I didn’t expect it, to be in the quarter-finals with Norway in the World Cup is quite surprising even for me,” he said. “Playing against Brazil was kind of crazy for us Norwegians and to win against Brazil and then go and play England in the quarter-finals in the World Cup in the USA is quite special.

“I think if you watch the scenes back in Norway, this is not normal for Norway to be, so it’s super special.”

England are in the quarter-finals for a third straight World Cup, but have not won a major tournament for 60 years. Haaland was keen to put the pressure on the Three Lions.

The top four seeds are all on course to reach the last four: England could face the defending champions Argentina, while France and Spain may meet in the other semi-final.

“I think there’s some clear favourites out there, England’s one of them,” said Haaland. “I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads.”

Haaland’s exploits have also made him a star Stateside over the past few weeks. On top of his goalscoring prowess, the 25-year-old’s jovial personality has gained fans.

Hours after scoring the winner in the last 32 against Ivory Coast, Haaland went to be kitted out like a cowboy in Dallas posting a viral video in a cowboy hat and boots.

“It’s a good thing because I like the Americans, I think they are kind of hilarious as well. They are funny,” he said.

“I think it’s just good. Honestly on every single thing with the World Cup so far here it has been amazing: from the games to the stadiums, everything has been amazing.

“The training ground where we train has been amazing, so I’m super happy and it’s been impressive.” AFP

“A few (almost but not quite interesting) stats on World Cup winners’ continental records,” emails Harry.

“If France win, they’d leave England and Uruguay as the only countries to never win outside their own continent.

“Spain (South Africa) and Brazil (Sweden) are the only countries whose debut win was on another continent; Spain would be the first to win their first two overseas (Brazil’s was Chile 1962).

“Argentina could join Brazil as the only country to win twice on the same “foreign” continent (Mexico and the US).”

All seems fair. Thanks.

Jarell Quansah has been banned for two World Cup matches following his red card in England’s last-16 victory over Mexico on Sunday.

Quansah was dismissed after a VAR review of a sliding challenge on Jesus Gallardo that Fifa have subsequently deemed to be serious foul play, and in accordance of Article 14 of their code of conduct that has led to a two-game ban for the defender.

An email entitled ‘Where we’re watching the game’ has arrived.

“My sister Linda has bought a Sainsbury’s England top and flown to Norway to watch the game with 5,000 Viking rowers in a park in Bergen!” emails Phil.

“I’m guessing she’ll be rowing in the opposite direction.”

But where will you watch it, Phil?

Sir Keir Starmer’s intervention on the Mexico v England kick-off time was “far more egregious” than US president Donald Trump lobbying Fifa over Folarin Balogun’s red card, the White House’s top World Cup executive has said.

The Prime Minister is understood to have supported representations from the Football Association aimed at preventing Fifa from bringing forward the kick-off time of the match in Mexico City from 6pm to 12pm, a move that would have cut short England’s preparations for the last-16 match at high altitude.

Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup Task Force, said that was more significant than president Trump calling Fifa counterpart Gianni Infantino asking for a review of Balogun’s dismissal, with the US striker’s ban subsequently suspended by Fifa’s disciplinary committee.

“I would look at (Starmer’s involvement) as a far more egregious situation when you think of the fact that the reason for potentially moving the game earlier was because there were three Mexicans that lost their lives after the round of 32 (win over Ecuador) because it was so late and you had over a million Mexicans coming in (to the city centre),” Giuliani told Times Radio.

“The reasons there were discussions was for life and safety. I think that’s where the discussion should be – less about the play on the field. One (intervention) is life and safety, the other one is play on the pitch. I think you can see a very clear difference on that.”

Fifa has faced accusations of political interference – something strictly prohibited within its statutes – in regard to the Balogun case, with Infantino issuing a statement insisting his organisation’s committees were fully independent.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman sought to draw a distinction between the two incidents when asked about it on Tuesday, saying: “The Prime Minister was clear that he was supportive of representations made by the FA regarding the practical implications of a proposed scheduling change for the team’s preparations.

“The final decision on fixture timings remained a matter for Fifa.

“As we’ve consistently said, decisions on disciplinary matters and the application of rules of the game are for Fifa and for the relevant football authorities.”

Giuliani again defended the decision of the President to intervene regarding Balogun and said: “Here’s the truth about President Trump. President Trump wants fair play. Fair play at the ballot box, fair play on the field. I think they got the ultimate call right (in suspending Balogun’s ban).

“Hats off to Belgium. What the President said was ‘if Belgium end up winning and they’re the better team, then you tip your cap’. We had our best players on the field, they had their best players on the field, and they were the better team on Monday, it wasn’t even close.” PA Media

Where to watch France v Morocco? Graham Ruthven has the details:

Is anyone considering flying to Miami for Norway v England?

I’ve just had a look at flights, just out of interest. You can fly to Miami tomorrow, via Madrid, for about a grand with BA. With a direct return flight, coming back on Sunday, it comes in at about £1,700 total.

The cheapest I can see on Virgin (out Friday, back Sunday) is nearly four large.

If you are going to Miami for the game, please email us and tell all.

France v Morocco (Boston – today, 4pm EDT/9pm BST)
Spain v Belgium (Los Angeles – tomorrow 3pm EDT/8pm BST)
Norway v England (Miami – Saturday, 5pm EDT/10pm BST)
Argentina v Switzerland (Kansas City – Saturday 9pm EDT/Sunday 2am BST)

“Looks like Manzambi is out with a knee injury and several other players questionable (reported in Swiss media),” emails Adrian. “Just as we were building good momentum … Now we fear a repeat of the round of 16 in 2022, when Murat Yakin had to improvise because several players were ill; we had no right-back and Yakin changed the system with the result that everyone was constantly out of position and we got hammered 1-6 by Portugal.”

Stay positive!

Oh, and regarding Manzabi, from earlier:

If Michael Olise wins the World Cup, there will be a corner of a Hayes housing estate that is for ever France. It is Olise’s corner, a scrap of parkland grass among the west London suburban homes where a seven-year-old practised his football with his brother, Richard. “Football in these conditions, it’s just freedom,” Olise told L’Équipe last month. “It’s not really learning in the strict sense. It was simply the pleasure of playing football. I just loved it.”

Sean Conlon, one of Olise’s early coaches with Old Isleworthians in west London, recalls: “I would go over to his house and he would be practising outside with Richard. That little estate probably really aided him; there weren’t a lot of cars but it had quite a lot of concrete open space and then a small green. He’d just be practising out here all the time, obsessed with football.”

After watching 120 minutes of football, you might not find observing a coin toss the most exciting dessert. Fans in the stadium care, though. Win a coin toss for a penalty shootout and you choose the end where they are taken – to much rejoicing from those behind the chosen goal. Another coin toss also allows the winner to choose whether to go first or second. But does that decision actually matter?

For years, the consensus was that going first in a shootout gives teams an advantage. Being able to take the lead and put scoreboard pressure on opponents surely has a mental benefit, and means they are more likely to face the dreaded “must-score” penalty. However, when Rubén Vargas tucked away the winning spot kick for Switzerland against Colombia in their last-16 tie, it continued a rather curious trend.

All four penalty shootouts at this World Cup have been won by the team that went second. That is not much of a sample, but 13 of the past 15 shootouts at World Cups have been won by the team going second (86.7%). The only shootouts in that time where the teams going first won were in the 2022 World Cup, when Morocco eliminated Spain in the last-16 stage and Croatia beat Brazil in the quarter-finals.

We’re going to see a penalty shootout or two in the quarter-finals and beyond, aren’t we? Perhaps more.

Coming up, an Opta piece on penalty shootouts – and the supposed advantage of taking the first kick …

Is France’s name on the cup? It was in 1998, and no mistake.

Back in Covid pandemic times, Michael Hann wrote about his memories of the 1998 final between France and Brazil:

“It would have been about five in the morning, Monday 13 July 1998. I was on a dodgem car in the Place de la Bastille and very drunk. I had just bitten into a merguez sausage and burning red fat had splattered all over the front of my shirt.

“I was still a half-hour’s walk from my hotel. I was expecting a call in three hours from CNN to talk its worldwide breakfast show through the events of the previous evening and then I had to go straight to the Gare du Nord to get the train to London and go to work at FourFourTwo magazine.

“At some point in the previous couple of hours I had reached the conclusion that speaking on international television while intoxicated was perfectly feasible and that a couple of hours on a train would see me fine for the office.”

By the way, if you’ve never seen the video of the France defenders – Desailly, Thuram, Leboeuf and more – discussing how to try and stop Ronaldo in 1998, it’s worth seeking out.

See below your one-stop shop for today’s football pieces, World Cup and non-World Cup. But mostly World Cup:

Christian Pulisic is expected to be sidelined several weeks with a bone ⁠bruise and microfracture in his right leg. He was injured in the USA’s loss to Belgium in the round of 16 ⁠on Monday.

The ​Athletic first reported the injury and expected timeline of recovery for Pulisic, who likely will be able ⁠to resume training prior to Milan’s Serie A opener at Torino on 23 August.

With the US trailing 2-1 in Seattle, Pulisic was lining up a ​shot in ‌the 54th minute. The Belgium captain Youri Tielemans stepped between the ball and Pulisic’s foot.

Pulisic attempted to play through the injury but was limping, and was taken off in the 59th minute after Belgium took advantage of keeper Matt Freese’s blunder to extend their lead to 3-1.

Pulisic, 27, was emotional after being taken off in the 4-1 loss. He finished his second World Cup ​with one assist in four matches.

“Tough to find the words. I want to start by saying thank you to everyone who believed. The support carried us all the way through,” Pulisic posted on Instagram on Wednesday.

“It simply wasn’t good enough from us ⁠in the end and I wanted to deliver so much more. ​I still feel ​blessed to be a part ​of this team. The memories this summer will last a ​lifetime. It’s just ‌the start for ​us and ​for this sport in America.“ Field ‌Level Media

Merci, Will. Hi everyone. I’m just watching Pogacar win the Tour, over on Guardian Channel 2. Andy McGrath is on the blog:

Katy Murrells, meanwhile, has the tennis here: