The Moroccan national team is gearing up for a chance at redemption as they prepare to face France in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday. This matchup comes after Morocco's defeat to France in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, a loss that still stings for players and fans alike. As the teams approach this pivotal game, France is viewed as the clear favorite, boasting a 60.9% probability of advancing to the next round, according to statistical analysis by Opta. In contrast, Morocco's chances stand at 16.9%, while there is a 22.2% likelihood that the match will end in a draw after regular time.
France's Quest for a Historic Third Consecutive Semifinal
France enters this quarterfinal with aspirations of reaching the semifinals for the third consecutive World Cup, having won the title in 2018 and finishing as runners-up in 2022. If they manage to overcome Morocco, they would become only the third team in history to secure a spot in the semifinals for three World Cups in a row, joining the ranks of Germany and Brazil. The French team reached this stage following a hard-fought victory over Paraguay, where Kylian Mbappé netted the decisive goal from the penalty spot, bringing his tournament total to seven goals, tying him with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland at the top of the Golden Boot race.
Adding to France's attacking prowess is Michael Olise, who has emerged as a significant contributor, enhancing the squad's offensive capabilities alongside Mbappé. The French team has displayed remarkable form, boasting seven consecutive wins in official matches, indicating their strong momentum heading into the clash with Morocco.
Morocco's Preparation and Injury Concerns
On the other hand, Morocco faces injury concerns, particularly regarding Ismail Sabiri, who sustained a thigh injury during their Round of 16 victory over Canada. Sabiri had been instrumental in the group stage, scoring in every match. Should he be unable to play, coach Mohamed Wahbi will likely turn to Ibrahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi to maintain their attacking intensity. Diaz has been the most prolific Moroccan player since the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, contributing six goals and four assists, while Hakimi leads all defenders in creating scoring opportunities over the last two World Cups. In the 2026 edition alone, he has created 15 chances, the highest by an African defender in a single tournament since such statistics began to be recorded.
There are also doubts surrounding defender Shadi Riyad, who is dealing with a knee injury. France, meanwhile, is waiting to assess the fitness of Aurélien Tchouaméni and William Saliba, both of whom suffered injuries in their previous match. Historically, these teams have clashed in the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup, where France triumphed with a 2-0 scoreline. The French team has not lost any of their six previous encounters with Morocco, achieving three victories and three draws. However, statistics reveal that half of France's World Cup defeats in the 21st century have come at the hands of African teams, providing Morocco with an additional incentive to seek a surprise victory and advance to the semifinals once more.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
