France vs Morocco - prediction, team news, lineups | World Cup 2026

Eyeing a 3rd consecutive World Cup semi-final, two-time champions France indispensable flooded Morocco successful the past eight, arsenic the acquainted brace conscionable successful Boston connected Thursday. 

Whichever broadside wins a rematch of their 2022 semi volition beforehand to the last four, wherever either Spain oregon Belgium would await.

Match preview

Having rolled up their sleeves and survived Paraguay's 'dark arts' successful the 2nd knockout round, favourites France are preparing for yet different World Cup quarter-final.  

Five consecutive wins person helped Les Bleus apical Group I, past spot disconnected Sweden and La Albirroja; portion it took a Kylian Mbappe punishment to yet decision the latter, they person scored 13 goals successful the process.

A potent beforehand 4 of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola has been perfectly supplemented by Desire Doue, whose neat footwork secured that important spot-kick against Paraguay. 

All overseen by Didier Deschamps, who volition bow retired aft this tournament, France person present won 11 of their past 12 competitory matches - including each of the past seven.

In summation to captaining the 1998 squad that claimed planetary glory connected location turf, Deschamps is acceptable to negociate his 25th World Cup crippled connected Thursday, equalling Helmut Schon's longstanding record. 

Back successful Boston - wherever Les Bleus antecedently bushed an under-strength Norway broadside 4-1 - the seasoned manager volition people his 20th triumph connected football's biggest stage. 

Meanwhile, Morocco indispensable effort to yet bushed France astatine the seventh clip of asking, having mislaid 4 and drawn 2 meetings truthful far. 

The lone competitory contention took spot astatine Qatar 2022, with a 2-0 semi-final decision ending the Moroccans' magnificent tally astatine that finals. 

Once again, the Atlas Lions person gone 5 games unbeaten to commencement a World Cup earlier moving into Les Bleus, arsenic they proceed to interruption caller crushed for African football.

Ranked seventh successful the world, Mohamed Ouahbi's men finished 2nd successful Group C earlier beating the Netherlands connected penalties and swatting speech tourney co-hosts Canada.

After a pedestrian commencement to their last-16 tie, Azzedine Ounahi's second-half brace saw Morocco prehend control, and substitute Soufiane Rahimi applied the finishing interaction during stoppage time.

As a result, they are unbeaten successful 10 consecutive games since January's arguable Africa Cup of Nations last - but extending that streak could beryllium their fiercest trial yet. 

France World Cup form:

W W W W W

France signifier (all competitions):

W W W W W W

Morocco World Cup form:

D W W W W

Morocco signifier (all competitions):

D D W W W W

Team News

With his winning extremity against Paraguay, France skipper Mbappe moved onto 7 for the tourney – level with Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland successful a star-studded Golden Boot contention - and helium volition deterioration the armband erstwhile again.

Now connected 19 World Cup goals, the Real Madrid striker is besides locked successful a fascinating conflict with Messi to apical the all-time scoring charts.

His caput manager is improbable to marque changes to a settled starting XI, arsenic Manu Kone whitethorn proceed to deputise for Aurelien Tchouameni successful midfield.

Joining Marcus Thuram connected the sidelines, the second was absent from the Paraguay crippled and has subsequently missed respective days grooming with a thigh injury.

Morocco's main fittingness uncertainty concerns Bayern Munich caller lad Ismael Saibari, who impressed during the radical signifier but was withdrawn aboriginal successful their last-16 clash.

His hamstring strain could mean that Rahimi fills successful up front, portion it remains to beryllium seen whether centre-back Chadi Riad is afloat acceptable aft making mode for Redouane Halhal past clip out.

After mounting up 2 goals against Canada, cardinal creator Brahim Diaz holds the all-time African grounds with 4 World Cup assists; helium has besides posted 10 extremity involvements for his state this year.

France imaginable starting lineup:

Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe

Morocco imaginable starting lineup:

Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Rahimi

We say: France 1-0 Morocco (after other time)

Extending their head-to-head supremacy, France should sneak past Morocco and into different semi-final - astir most apt aft a tense and tight-fought contest.

With match-winners crossed the last third, Les Bleus tin tame the brave Atlas Lions successful Boston, truthful instrumentality a look astatine Sports Mole's usher to the champion World Cup betting sites.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.