As Canada enjoys a quiet moment after their shocking elimination, the rest of the football world turns its eyes to Boston, where Thursday’s World Cup quarter-final carries immense weight for both France and Morocco.
At Gillette Stadium this Thursday at 4 p.m. EST on July 9, the Atlas Lions will face Les Bleus in a rematch of their 2022 World Cup semi-final. Morocco, who stunned co-host Canada with a ruthless 3-0 victory in the round of 16 despite only four shots on target, now aim to avenge their past defeat against France. The Canadians will be watching closely, knowing Morocco was the team that ended their tournament dreams.
- Morocco’s route included: A draw with Brazil and a 3-0 demolition of tournament co-host Canada.
- France’s dominance: They have won every single World Cup 2026 match, scoring 14 goals while conceding just twice.
- Historical context: The 2022 semi-final in Qatar saw France win 2-0, ending Morocco’s historic run.
France remains the tournament’s favorite, with an unbeaten record in 12 competitive matches and seven consecutive wins. If they win their eighth straight, they will become the third nation ever to reach three consecutive World Cup semi-finals. Morocco, however, arrives red-hot, unbeaten in 10 matches since the AFCON final, and believes they can cause an upset.
The Mbappé Factor and Tactical Challenges
Kylian Mbappé is in outstanding form, having scored 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, joining Lionel Messi on that exclusive list. A penalty against Paraguay in the round of 16 was enough for France to grind past a stubborn opponent.
For Morocco, the situation is less ideal. Focal-point striker Ismael Saibari is a major doubt due to a hamstring injury, forcing him off early during the match against Canada. This significantly blunts their attacking threat, as Saibari had scored in all their group games before his injury.
Betting Markets and Final Score Prediction
Bookmakers have made their call, and the gap is not close. France is a heavy favorite on the moneyline, with Morocco listed as sizeable underdogs. The betting markets lean toward a lower-scoring game, with the total set around two and a half goals. France has kept clean sheets against Sweden and Iraq, while beating Paraguay 1-0.
Reading the trends, a 1-0 or 2-0 France win appears 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 the tempo, while Morocco defends deep and dangerously.
However, if there is one team built to spoil a favorite’s party, it is this Moroccan side. Just ask Canada. The final prediction is France 2, Morocco 0, though don’t be shocked if the Atlas Lions drag it to penalties and break a few more hearts along the way.