France vs Morocco: Can Morocco Get Revenge for 2022?

Predictions

We think France win it, but only by a slight margin, and we call it 2-1.

This is a huge quarter-final between France, the favorites to win the trophy (about a 35% chance as of today on Polymarket), and the impressive Morocco team.

France have more star power, so they are the favorites here.

But Morocco are so well organized that they make life very hard for anyone.

And do not forget, Morocco are still hurting from losing to France in 2022, so you can expect them to go all in against France to get their revenge.

• Our prediction: a tight France win, 2-1.
• DraftKings: France are the favorites at -175, about a 64% chance, with Morocco out at +500.
• Tips.GG: also predicts France to win 2-1.

A 2022 Rematch With a Deeper Meaning

Morocco have waited a long time for this exact game.

Back in 2022, these two met in the World Cup semi-final, and France won 2-0.

That night ended a dream, because Morocco were the first African and Arab nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.

So now they meet France again, and this time they want to write a different ending.

There is a warm history between these two nations as well.

Morocco and France share deep ties that go back many years.

Many French players also have North African or African family roots, so this game means a lot on both sides.

Just imagine the noise and the emotion when these two walk out onto the pitch.

How Did France Reach the Quarter-Finals?

France have looked every bit the favorites so far.

They won their group with 3 strong wins over Senegal, Iraq, and Norway.

Then they beat Sweden 3-0 in the round of 32, with a very strong performance.

And in the round of 16 they struggled against Paraguay.

But they got through thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappe.

Here is the honest part, that Paraguay game was not their best.

They found a way through, but this France team knows it can play much better.

How Did Morocco Reach the Quarter-Finals?

Morocco have been one of the best stories of this tournament.

They came through a tricky group, even drawing 1-1 with the mighty Brazil.

Then in the round of 32 they knocked out the Netherlands on penaltiesto get their first big win of this tournament.

And in the round of 16 they had a superb performance to beat the co-hosts of the competition, Canada 3-0.

Azzedine Ounahi scored twice that day, and Soufiane Rahimi added a third.

So Morocco arrive full of confidence, and they know they can beat big teams.

Why Are France the Favorites?

The simple answer is that France have more match-winners than almost anyone.

Their captain Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid) is one of the top scorers of this World Cup with 7 goals and can decide any game.

Next to him is their winger Ousmane Dembele (PSG), the reigning Ballon d'Or winner as the world's best player.

And their young winger Michael Olise (Bayern Munich) gives them even more attacking talent off the bench.

They are also 2-time world champions, and they lost the 2022 final, so they are hungry for more.

Add to that their coach Didier Deschamps, who is in his last tournament in charge, and you understand why they want this trophy so badly.

That is why the markets make France the favorites, with about a 64% chance to win in the 90 minutes.

Why Can Morocco Cause an Upset?

But we know Morocco's team is built for games like this.

They defend as a team, and they are very hard to break down.

Their captain Achraf Hakimi, who plays at PSG, is a right-back who turns defense into attack in seconds.

Behind him their goalkeeper Yassine Bounou has saved them time and time again on the big nights.

And their playmaker Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid) can unlock a defense with one clever pass.

Their real weapon is the quick attack, punishing any team that leaves a gap at the back.

So if France stop concentrating for a moment, Morocco have the players to punish them.

That is why there is a lot on the line in this game, and you can expect both teams to show their best football on the night.

Our Call: France 2-1 Morocco

So how do we see this quarter-final going?

We think France have too much quality up front over 90 minutes.

With Mbappe in this kind of form, they should find a way through in the end.

But Morocco are so well organized, and they are dangerous every time they win the ball.

So we do not expect France to cruise, we expect them to win a tight, physical game, winning by a small margin with a 2-1 score at the final whistle.

And do not be surprised if this one goes all the way to extra time.

Where and When Is the Match?

The game is on Thursday, July 9, 2026.

It is played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

And kickoff is at 4:00 PM Eastern time.

The winner then reaches the semi-finals, and the loser is out of the World Cup.

You can find all the extra details on the match page.

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