WORLD CUP DAILY, July 8: Quarterfinals kick off

WORLD CUP DAILY, July 9: Quarterfinals kick off

Published 8:00 am Thursday, July 9, 2026

FIFA World Cup Trophy displayed at BC Place Stadium on July 26, 2024 in Vancouver. (Ethan Cairns/Getty Images for FIFA)

Daily FIFA World Cup soccer match updates and news for Black Press Media publications.

Quarterfinals kick off today with Morocco, ranked 6th by FIFA, taking on France, ranked 1st, at 1 p.m. in Boston.

Morocco is the first African country to reach two World Cup quarter-finals and has lost only two of their last nine matches against European teams. They also have scored 10 goals at the 2026 World Cup, becoming the second African team to reach “double figures” in a single tournament.

France has “prevailed” in 18 of its last 21 knockout-phase matches. It has also won both its World Cup knockout ties against African teams: Nigeria 2-0 in 2014 and Morocco in the 2022 semi-final.

“France are unbeaten in all six meetings with Morocco (Wins: 4 / Draws: 2), most recently their 2-0 victory in the FIFA World Cup 2022 semi-final. Six players from that semi-final are present in France’s 2026 squad, including the scorer of their opening goal in the Qatar encounter – Théo Hernandez,” according to FIFA.

Morocco vs. France at 1 p.m. in Boston

Spain vs. Belgium at 12 p.m. in Los Angeles

Norway vs. England at 5 p.m. in Miami

Argentina vs. Switzerland at 8 p.m. in Kansas City

17K hotdogs consumed: Vancouver by the numbers as FIFA World Cup hits halfway mark

World Cup numbers: 39-day FIFA soccer tournament started June 11 in Mexico.

2026 FIFA World Cup: An in-depth look at Canada’s midfielders and forwards.

2026 FIFA World Cup: An in-depth look into Canada’s goalkeepers and defence.

TROZZO: What a doctor on Canada’s bench in ’86 bench taught me about the World Cup.

PHOTOS: B.C.’s Science World fully transforms into FIFA World Cup match ball.

Vancouver’s 1st World Cup match led to TransLink’s busiest Saturday since Olympics.