Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final in Boston means more than just a match—it’s a chance for Morocco to rewrite history against France.
At Gillette Stadium (4 p.m. EST, July 9), the Atlas Lions will face the side that ended their 2022 semi-final dream. Morocco eliminated tournament co-host Canada with a ruthless 3-0 victory, even though they had only four shots on target. After a shaky first half, Azzedine Ounahi scored twice, and Soufiane Rahimi added a late goal. The result was efficient, brutal, and now puts Morocco between France and the semifinals.
Why this rematch matters
This game is personal for both teams. They last met in the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where France won 2-0. Morocco is out to avenge that loss. The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in 10 matches since the AFCON final and believe they can cause an upset.
France, however, remains the tournament favorite. Les Bleus have won their last seven competitive matches and are unbeaten in 12 straight. If they win their eighth consecutive game, they’ll become the third nation ever to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals.
- France has scored 14 goals in five World Cup 2026 matches, conceding only twice
- Morocco beat Canada 3-0 and advanced past the Netherlands on penalties
- France won 61.7% of Opta supercomputer simulations for this matchup
Mbappé’s影响
Kylian Mbappé is in outstanding form, having scored seven goals in this tournament. He’s now one of only two players ever to score seven or more goals in two separate World Cups—the other is Lionel Messi. A penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16 was enough for France to win 1-0.
Morocco faces a key injury concern: striker Ismael Saibari is a major doubt with a hamstring injury after coming off early against Canada. His absence weakens their attack significantly.
What’s the likely score?
Bookmakers see France as heavy favorites. Morocco is listed as a sizeable underdog, with the draw far behind. The betting market expects a lower-scoring game, with the total set near 2.5 goals.
Reading the trends, a 1-0 or 2-0 France win seems the smart prediction. Thirteen of France’s last 16 wins came by two-plus goal margins, while seven of Morocco’s last nine World Cup defeats were by a single goal. France should control tempo, Morocco will defend deep, and Mbappé will likely find the key.
But Morocco has shown it can spoil favorites—just ask Canada.
Prediction: France 2, Morocco 0—though don’t be shocked if the Atlas Lions force penalties and break more hearts.
