As the anticipation builds for the quarterfinal clash in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Moroccan national team is poised to seek redemption for their heartbreaking loss to France in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament. The match is scheduled for Thursday, and it promises to be a thrilling encounter as both teams battle for a coveted spot in the semifinals.
Entering the match, France stands as the leading favorite, bolstered by a statistical analysis from the renowned analytics company, Opta, which assigns the French team a 60.9% chance of advancing. In stark contrast, Morocco's chances are pegged at 16.9%, with a further 22.2% likelihood of the match concluding in a draw after regulation time. The stakes are high for both nations, as Morocco seeks to rewrite history while France aims to continue its impressive World Cup journey.
France's Pursuit of Glory
The French squad is aiming to reach the World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive time, following their triumphant victory in 2018 and their runner-up finish in 2022. Should they manage to overcome Morocco, they would join an elite group of teams - including Germany and Brazil - that have reached the semifinals in three successive World Cups.
France secured its place in the quarterfinals with a hard-fought win against Paraguay, thanks to a penalty converted by star forward Kylian Mbappé. This goal marked his seventh in the tournament, placing him in a tie with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland in the race for the Golden Boot. Additionally, Michael Olise has been instrumental in enhancing France’s attacking prowess alongside Mbappé, contributing significantly to a remarkable run of seven consecutive victories in official matches.
Morocco's Challenge and Key Players
On the other hand, Morocco faces questions regarding the fitness of Ismaïl Saibari, who suffered a thigh injury during their Round of 16 victory over Canada, a match in which he scored in every group stage game. In the event of his absence, coach Mohammed Wahbi will rely heavily on players like Ibrahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi to maintain their offensive momentum. Diaz has emerged as Morocco's most impactful player since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, netting six goals and providing four assists, while Hakimi leads all defenders in creating chances over the last two World Cups, having crafted 15 opportunities in the 2026 edition - the highest for an African defender in a single tournament since such statistics have been recorded.
Moreover, there are concerns over the availability of defender Chadi Riyad due to a knee injury, while the French team is also monitoring the status of Aurélien Tchouaméni and William Saliba, who both faced injuries in their previous match.
Historically, Morocco and France have met in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, where France triumphed with a score of 2-0. Notably, the French team has remained unbeaten in their six encounters against Morocco, achieving three victories and three draws. However, it’s worth noting that half of France's defeats in World Cup history during the 21st century have come at the hands of African teams, providing Morocco with an additional impetus to aim for a monumental upset and secure a place in the semifinals.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
