Daytime edition of the Night Mundial — July 9, 13:00 Kyiv time. The quarter-final stage of the 2026 World Cup kicks off today: the eight remaining teams begin their battle for semi-final spots. The main talking points of the morning are FIFA's ruling on France's appeal, Morocco's injury concerns, and the coaches' statements ahead of the first quarter-final. The full 2026 World Cup schedule in Kyiv time is available in our dedicated article.
FIFA Rejects France's Appeal Over Olise's Yellow Card
The French Football Federation has lost its appeal to FIFA over the yellow card shown to midfielder Michael Olise in the round-of-16 match against Paraguay. Head coach Didier Deschamps confirmed this at the pre-match press conference: "We received FIFA's decision this morning — the yellow card stands." Olise was booked in the 97th minute following a clash with Matías Galarza: video replays showed only that the Frenchman grabbed his opponent's shirt, yet the Paraguayan went down on the turf.
If Olise picks up another booking today against Morocco, he will miss a potential semi-final. Yellow card accumulations are reset after the quarter-finals, so the heightened caution applies only to this match.
Morocco Without Saibari: Team News Ahead of the Quarter-Final
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed that midfielder Ismail Saibari will not play against France — the player suffered a thigh injury in the round-of-16 match against Canada (3:0). This is the Atlas Lions' first confirmed personnel loss in the knockout stage. Despite the setback, Ouahbi remains determined: "The only bonus is winning the World Cup." The fighting spirit was echoed by Brahim Díaz, who described the rout of Canada as a blueprint for how the team should continue to play.
Deschamps, for his part, acknowledged the opponent's strength: "They are not here to play — they are here to win. We need to be ready." Meanwhile, French authorities are bracing for potential unrest: several thousand police officers will be deployed across the country, following the 2022 World Cup quarter-final between the same two sides, which triggered more than 250 arrests in Paris.
Deschamps Announces Departure After the Tournament
At the same press conference, Didier Deschamps confirmed that he will step down as France head coach after the 2026 World Cup. The 57-year-old has been in charge of Les Bleus for 14 years and led the team to the 2018 World Cup title. "The last match could be the final one. My mind is only on winning tomorrow," he said. The question of his successor remains open.
2026 World Cup Schedule in Kyiv Time: Quarter-Finals
All four quarter-finals will be played at American stadiums. Here is the 2026 World Cup schedule in Kyiv time for the quarter-final stage:
- July 9, 23:00 Kyiv time — Morocco vs France, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts)
- July 10, 22:00 Kyiv time — Belgium vs Spain, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
- July 12, 00:00 Kyiv time — Norway vs England, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami)
- July 12, 04:00 Kyiv time — Argentina vs Switzerland, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City)
For reference: US Eastern Time (ET) is 7 hours behind Kyiv time in summer (UTC+3 vs UTC−4). A 16:00 ET kick-off equals 23:00 Kyiv time. For more on time conversion and the full 2026 World Cup schedule in Kyiv time, see our continuously updated article.
Tonight brings the first quarter-final: Morocco vs France at 23:00 Kyiv time in Foxborough; a detailed preview is coming soon.
Photo: Kyle Hightower · Editorial (source)
