As Canada watches from the sidelines, the World Cup quarterfinal in Boston carries sharp memories for the outco hosts. Morocco eliminated Canada 3-0 in the last 16, and now the Atlas Lions face France, the team that crushed them in the 2022 semifinal. The game kicks off at 4:00 PM EST on July 9 at Boston Stadium, with both teams hungry to settle old scores.
France and Morocco are meeting again in a rematch three years in the making. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, France won 2-0 in the semifinal. Morocco, now unbeaten in 34 internationals, aim to reverse that result. They’ve won 25 of those matches and drawn eight, showing remarkable consistency. Their 3-0 victory over Canada highlighted their ability to exploit space, with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice.
France remain the tournament favorites, unbeaten in 12 competitive matches and having won their last seven. If they win their eighth straight, they’ll become the third nation ever to reach three consecutive World Cup semifinals. Didier Deschamps, who led France to that 2-0 semifinal win in 2022, has now won ten World Cup knockout games, the most by any manager in history.
Kylian Mbappé is the standout for France, scoring seven goals in this tournament and becoming one of only two players to score seven or more in two separate World Cups—alongside Lionel Messi. His 70th-minute penalty against Paraguay in the Round of 16 secured a 1-0 win, proving his value in tight moments. Morocco must counter his threat while relying on their own defensive strength.
Morocco’s attack faces a setback with Ismael Saibari, a key striker, doubtful due to a thigh injury. He scored in all their group games but was forced off in the first half of their 3-0 win over Canada. His absence could blunt Morocco’s offensive options, especially against France’s high-quality attack.
Bookmakers favor France heavily, listing them at 1.61 on major odds platforms. Morocco are seen as significant underdogs, with the draw unlikely. The betting market points to a low-scoring game, with the total set around 2.5 goals. Most predictions lean toward a tight French win, such as 1-0 or 2-0, given France’s tendency to win by two-goal margins and Morocco’s narrow losses in past World Cup defeats.
Yet Morocco has proven they can upset favorites, just as they did against Canada. Their defensive resilience and ability to strike on the counter could make this a tough match for France. If the game ends level, extra time and penalties will decide the winner.
Prediction: France 1, Morocco 0 after extra time. While France holds the edge in quality, Morocco’s historic run and defensive discipline make this a close contest.
