Can Morocco Stop France’s World Cup Journey?

Canada, grab your poutine and settle in. The upcoming World Cup quarter-final at Gillette Stadium in Boston on Thursday carries extra sting for Canadian fans.

When France and Morocco kick off at 4 p.m. EST on July 9, the Atlas Lions will be the team that ended Canada’s tournament dreams. Morocco defeated co-host Canada 3-0 in the last 16, claiming victory despite only registering four shots on target. They weathered Canada’s first-half dominance, then Azzedine Ounahi scored twice and Soufiane Rahimi added one to seal the game. Ruthless and efficient. Now, Morocco stands between France and a semifinal berth.

A historic rematch with stakes

This clash is deeply personal for both sides. Their most recent meeting occurred at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where France won 2-0 in the semifinal. Morocco aims to avenge that defeat. The Atlas Lions are red-hot, unbeaten in 10 matches since the AFCON final, and smell an upset opportunity.

France remains the tournament favorite. Les Bleus are unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and have won their last seven consecutively. If they win an eighth, they become the third nation ever to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals.

• Key Stat: France has never lost to Morocco across six meetings, winning four and drawing two.
• Key Stat: Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 despite only four shots on target.
• Key Stat: France won 61.7% of 25,000 pre-match simulations.

Mbappé’s towering impact

Kylian Mbappé is in outstanding form, scoring seven goals at this tournament. He is now one of only two players in history to score seven or more goals in two separate World Cups, alongside Lionel Messi. A penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16 secured France’s 1-0 victory over a stubborn opponent.

Morocco faces a major problem: striker Ismael Saibari is a doubt due to a hamstring injury after coming off early against Canada, blunting their attack considerably.

Final score prediction

Bookmakers favor France heavily on the moneyline. Morocco is listed as a sizeable underdog, with the draw trailing. Markets lean toward a lower-scoring game, with the total set around 2.5 goals.

Reading the trends, a 1-0 or 2-0 France win is the smart prediction. Thirteen of France’s last 16 wins came by two-plus goal margins, while seven of Morocco’s last nine World Cup defeats came by a single goal. France will likely control tempo, Morocco will defend deep, and Mbappé will find the key.

However, if one team can spoil a favorite, it is this Moroccan side. Just ask Canada. Prediction: France 2, Morocco 0 — though penalties could drag it out and break hearts.