FIFA Rejects Appeal; Michael Olise Faces Suspension Threat Ahead of World Cup Semifinal

France is set to face Morocco in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, aiming to advance toward a potential second title in three tournaments. Ahead of the match, the French Football Federation appealed to FIFA to overturn the threat of suspension hanging over winger Michael Olise. Currently, Olise risks missing the semifinal if he receives a yellow card against Morocco. FIFA has now rejected the French Federation's appeal, confirming that Olise remains at risk of suspension. This means if France reaches the semifinals and Olise is booked in the quarterfinal match, he will be ineligible to play in the next game.

Meanwhile, France's coach Didier Deschamps provided an update on midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni, stating he feels better and may participate in training with a good chance of playing against Morocco. The rest of the French squad is fit and available. On the Moroccan side, concerns center on striker Ismail Saïd, recently signed by Bayern Munich, who was injured during Morocco's round of 16 win over Canada and is doubtful for the upcoming match. If Saïd cannot play, Soufiane Rahimi is expected to replace him in the starting lineup.