The Moroccan national football team is poised for a chance at redemption as they prepare to face France in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, seeking to avenge their defeat in the semi-finals of the 2022 tournament. The match, set for Thursday, presents Morocco with an opportunity to rewrite their narrative against a formidable French side that has been deemed the favorite to progress. Statistical analysis from Opta Sports suggests that France holds a 60.9% probability of advancing, while Morocco's chances rest at 16.9%, with a 22.2% likelihood of the match ending in a draw after regulation time.
France's Pursuit of Glory and Morocco's Determination
France enters this match eyeing a third consecutive semi-final appearance in the World Cup, having clinched the title in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2022. A victory over Morocco would allow them to join an elite group of teams, including Germany and Brazil, that have reached the semi-finals in three consecutive tournaments. The French squad secured their place in the quarter-finals with a narrow win against Paraguay, where Kylian Mbappé netted a penalty, bringing his tournament total to seven goals, tying him with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland at the top of the Golden Boot race. Meanwhile, Michael Olise's impressive performance has bolstered France's attacking prowess alongside Mbappé, contributing to a remarkable streak of seven consecutive wins in official matches.
Conversely, Morocco faces uncertainty regarding the fitness of key player Ismail Sabiri, who sustained a thigh injury during their Round of 16 victory over Canada, having scored in every group stage match. If Sabiri is unable to play, head coach Mohamed Wahbi will likely rely on Ibrahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi to maintain their offensive momentum. Diaz has emerged as Morocco's most significant goal contributor since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with six goals and four assists to his name, while Hakimi leads all defenders in creating goal-scoring opportunities across the last two World Cups. He has created 15 chances in the 2026 tournament alone, marking the highest tally for an African defender in a single edition since such statistics were first recorded.
There are also doubts surrounding defender Shadi Riyad due to a knee injury, while the French team is awaiting updates on Aurélien Tchouaméni and William Saliba, both of whom sustained injuries in their previous match. The two teams previously met in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, where France secured a 2-0 victory. Historically, France has remained unbeaten in their last six encounters with Morocco, achieving three wins and three draws. However, statistics reveal that half of France's World Cup defeats in the 21st century have come against African teams, providing Morocco with added motivation to aim for a stunning upset and reach the semi-finals.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
