The eagerly awaited clash is set to take place. Following their brilliant 3–0 victory over Canada, Morocco will face France again in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus secured their place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Paraguay, thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappé.
The Atlas Lions now know their next challenge. On **9 July in Boston**, they will attempt to secure a place in the semi-finals against France, in a fixture that inevitably brings to mind the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup.
France scrape through thanks to Mbappé
Facing a combative Paraguay side, Didier Deschamps’ men struggled for a long time to break the deadlock. Solid in defence, the South Americans held out for over an hour before conceding a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé in the 70th minute.
That goal was enough to seal victory for Les Bleus, who join Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Morocco go into the match full of confidence
Unlike France, Morocco were in complete control of their round of 16 tie against Canada. After an evenly matched first half, the Atlas Lions made the difference after the break thanks to a brace from Azzedine Ounahi, before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory once and for all in added time.
This qualification confirms the excellent form of Mohamed Ouahbi’s side, who have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time in a row – a first in the history of African football.
A quarter-final with great symbolic significance
This clash between Morocco and France extends far beyond the sporting arena. It brings back memories of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, won by Les Bleus, and is generating immense interest on both sides of the Mediterranean.
But this time, the Atlas Lions are approaching this fixture in a completely different light. Now firmly established amongst the world’s footballing greats, the Moroccans will have the opportunity to prove their worth against one of the tournament’s favourites and to pursue their dream of reaching their first consecutive semi-final.
