:COUNTDOWN [targettime:2026-07-09T20:00:00Z]

:INFO
The rematch four years in the making
France 2, Morocco 0. Al Bayt Stadium, Qatar. December 14, 2022. Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute. Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th. The final score ended Morocco's historic run one step short of the first World Cup final by an African nation. That scoreline has lived rent-free in Moroccan football ever since. Now, on July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, the same two sides meet in the World Cup quarterfinal. Morocco have not forgotten. France have not slowed down.


:STATS

:MAP
42.0909,-71.2643,Gillette Stadium. Foxborough MA. France vs Morocco July 9
48.8566,2.3522,France. Paris. 5 wins from 5. 14 goals scored 2 conceded
34.0209,-6.8417,Morocco. Rabat. 5 unbeaten. 10 goals scored 4 conceded
25.7617,-80.1918,Hard Rock Stadium Miami. Norway vs England semi-final path
32.9343,-97.0208,Arrowhead Kansas City. Argentina vs Switzerland semi-final path
32.7767,-96.797,Dallas. Semi-final venue July 14 for the winner of this match

:NOTE
In 2022 Morocco became the first African nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final. They lost 2-0 to France. Now, in 2026, they are the first African nation to reach back-to-back World Cup quarter-finals. A win on July 9 would make them the first African nation in a World Cup final. The story writes itself, but Morocco will need to actually write it on the pitch, and France are the tournament's in-form side.


:NOTE.half
France key threat. Kylian Mbappe leads the Golden Boot race with 7 goals. Ousmane Dembele has 4. Michael Olise has 5 assists. France average 17.6 shots per game. Their last match was a 1-0 grind against Paraguay, showing the team can also operate in low-gear when they must.
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:NOTE.half
Morocco key threat. Achraf Hakimi is the engine of this team: 1 goal, 2 assists, and 15 chances created, more than any African defender in a single World Cup edition since records began in 1966. Ismael Saibari is a doubt after a thigh injury against Canada. His pace in behind is Morocco's sharpest attacking tool.


:QUOTE [quotetype:plain, subtitle:Achraf Hakimi]
We know what happened in 2022. We do not need to be reminded. We have spent four years thinking about this.


:NOTE
The injury board matters. France midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni is a doubt with a groin problem that kept him out of the Paraguay win. William Saliba played through a back injury in that match. For Morocco, Ismael Saibari left the Canada win early with a thigh problem and Chadi Riad missed it with a knee issue. Both sides go into this quarterfinal carrying knocks, which could shape the game's tempo from the opening whistle.


:NOTE
The Opta supercomputer gives France a 60.9 percent win probability. Morocco advance in 16.9 percent of projections. There is a 22.2 percent chance the teams draw, sending them to extra time and potentially penalties. Morocco won on penalties against the Netherlands in the round of 32. They know how to survive a shootout.


:LINK
https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026
Official FIFA World Cup 2026 site and live match centre