The premier global football competition has reached its decisive phase, with eight nations remaining in the hunt for the trophy. For African supporters, the focus is squarely on Morocco, the final team from the continent left in the bracket following the exit of nations like Senegal, Egypt, and South Africa. The Atlas Lions maintain an unbeaten record thus far, though they face uncertainty regarding the fitness of Ismael Saibari due to a hamstring injury.
A major highlight is the upcoming clash between France and Morocco, echoing their 2022 semifinal encounter. France, led by seven-goal scorer Kylian Mbappé, remains a strong favorite despite a narrow victory over Paraguay. Meanwhile, Spain is setting new defensive standards, having kept six consecutive clean sheets at the world championship level. Their next opponent, Belgium, enters the fray with momentum after impressive comeback and knockout victories.
Elsewhere, Norway has shocked the field by reaching the quarterfinals for the first time, fueled by Erling Haaland’s seven-goal performance. They now face England, coached by Thomas Tuchel, as Harry Kane prepares to challenge Haaland for the Golden Boot. Finally, Argentina’s Lionel Messi continues to drive his side forward after a dramatic recovery against Egypt, setting up a clash against a disciplined Swiss squad that recently overcame Colombia on penalties.
