France and Morocco will renew their rivalry on Thursday as the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup get underway, with both nations battling for a place in the last four.
The encounter rekindles memories of their historic semi-final meeting at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where France secured a 2-0 victory to end Morocco’s remarkable run and book a place in the final.
France head into the clash on the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay in the Round of 16, while Morocco advanced after defeating Canada 3-0 to continue their impressive campaign.
Les Bleus will once again look to the experience of Kylian Mbappe, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni as they seek another World Cup title, while Morocco will rely on the resilience and discipline that have made them one of the tournament’s standout teams.
Speaking ahead of the fixture, France manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged the quality of the Moroccan side, noting that their previous World Cup success and current form make them formidable opponents.
Morocco, meanwhile, will be eager to avenge their 2022 defeat and become the first African nation to reach consecutive World Cup semi-finals.
The winner of Thursday’s contest will progress to the semi-finals, where either Spain or Belgium awaits in the race for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
