Meet your quarterfinalists! How they got here, top...
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- France won all five games and scored 14 goals to reach the quarterfinals, with Kylian Mbappé (seven goals, two assists) driving the attack alongside Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise.
- Kylian Mbappé has 19 goals in 19 World Cup appearances, a figure bettered only by Lionel Messi, while recording his highest single-tournament scoring rate.
- Morocco advanced via a stoppage-time header from Issa Diop against the Netherlands, winning 3-2 on penalties, before beating co-hosts Canada 3-0—setting up a rematch of the 2022 semifinal against France.
- Spain have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, with Mikel Merino's stoppage-time winner against Portugal in the round of 16 the standout moment of a slow-burn campaign.
- Belgium trailed Senegal 2-0 with five minutes left before Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored in three mad minutes to force extra time, where Tielemans converted a 125th-minute penalty to win it.
- All eight ESPN writers picked France to beat Morocco, though Mark Ogden predicted Morocco would win on penalties, citing the 'burning desire to avenge the 2022 semifinal defeat.'
- Quarterfinal injury watch: Ismael Saibari, who joined Bayern Munich mid-tournament, is carrying a hamstring problem, raising concerns about Morocco's depth after four grueling weeks.
Why it matters: France's perfect 5-0 record with 14 goals makes them the only quarterfinalist to have cruised through the tournament without a scare, while every other remaining side has needed late drama or extra time—meaning the semifinal field may hinge on whether Morocco's depth holds up against Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise on Thursday.
