A place in the World Cup semi-finals is at stake when France and Morocco meet for another dramatic showdown at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Thursday night.
It is a pure repeat of the memorable World Cup semi-final from 2022, which France won back then. Once again, one of the tournament’s big favourites faces Africa’s pride and hope.
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France arrive in the quarter-finals in brilliant form and are chasing their third straight semi-final spot at a World Cup. Didier Deschamps’ side swept through Group I with a full pot, before beating both Sweden and Paraguay in the knockout stages – and they have now won seven games in a row in official competitions.
Les Bleus have scored 13 goals in five games so far, and field perhaps the most dangerous attacking line of the tournament. France have won 11 of their last 12 official international matches, and still appear to be one of the hottest favourites to lift the trophy in New Jersey later this month.
In their way stands a Moroccan team that continues to write history for African football. The Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022 – and are now just one win away from repeating the feat.
Mohamed Ouahbi’s men advanced from Group C, beating the Netherlands on penalties, and then sending co-host nation Canada out of the tournament in the last eight.
Morocco are now unbeaten in their last ten matches across all competitions. But history speaks against them: Morocco have never beaten France in regulation time, losing 2-0 when the teams met in the semi-finals in 2022.
World Cup 2026: France – Morocco – team news
France: Aurélien Tchouaméni (thigh) is a doubt, but Marcus Thuram (calf) is expected to be back.
Morocco: Ismael Saibari (hamstring) may again have to sit out, while Chadi Riad could be ready to return from a knee injury.
France v Morocco – Predicted line-ups
France: Maignan – Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne – Koné, Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Barcola – Mbappé
Morocco: Bounou – Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui – El Aynaoui, Bouaddi – Díaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss – Rahimi
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World Cup 2026: France – Morocco – key figures
- The teams have met six times before. France have won four, while two games have ended in a draw.
- The 2022 semi-finals were their first-ever competitive match. France won 2-0 after goals from Theo Hernández and Randal Kolo Muani.
- If France advances, they will become the third nation to reach three straight World Cup semi-finals – after Germany (four straight from 2002 to 2014, and three from 1982 to 1990) and Brazil (three straight from 1994 to 2002).
- France are on a winning streak of seven official matches, and have won 11 of their last 12 (one draw).
- The last time they won eight official matches in a row was between September 2002 and June 2004 (14 wins).
- Kylian Mbappé has also provided two assists and created 12 chances in this World Cup, with only Michael Olise (9) having more than Mbappé’s eight defensive breakaway passes for France.
- Olise is the first player since Brazil’s Zico in 1978 to complete at least 10 dribbles (11), create at least 10 chances in open play (10) and send at least 10 through passes (11) in his debut World Cup.
- African teams have twice gone unbeaten through their first five matches at a World Cup – both times Morocco are responsible for the performance (2022 and 2026).
- Since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Brahim Díaz has been directly involved in more goals than any other Moroccan player in all competitions (6 goals, 4 assists).
- Achraf Hakimi has created more chances than any other defender in the last two World Cup finals combined (21).
- Hakimi’s 15 chances in this year’s tournament are the most by an African defender in a single World Cup edition since 1966.
World Cup 2026: France – Morocco – prediction
France have their weaknesses defensively, which should make the match both entertaining and open. But the World Cup favourites simply have too much offensive power for the Atlas Lions to be able to resist.
France 4–2 Morocco
