Who will make it to the World Cup semifinals? Prediction for France vs Morocco
The 2026 World Cup is entering its most decisive phase! On Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 22:00 Central European Time, the monumental quarter-final clash between France and Morocco will unfold at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
A coveted spot in the World Cup semifinals is at stake. Four years ago in Qatar, these teams already met—though back then it was in the semifinals, where the French defeated the tournament’s biggest surprise 2-0. Can the "Atlas Lions" claim a historic revenge, or will "Les Bleus" take another confident stride toward the gold?
France
Didier Deschamps’ side looks like the most powerful, balanced, and consistent machine on American soil. France has won all five of its matches at the tournament, dispatching Senegal, Iraq, Norway, and Sweden, and in the round of 16 pragmatically overcame a stubborn Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a converted penalty by Kylian Mbappé. The French attack has already netted 14 goals, with Mbappé himself leading the tournament’s scoring charts with seven goals.
Deschamps is unlikely to change his winning formula. Mike Maignan will be between the posts, with Saliba and Upamecano anchoring the defense. The main focus will be on the explosive flanks, where Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé will look to stretch Morocco’s compact back line, forcing Achraf Hakimi to focus more on defense than on his trademark attacking runs.
Morocco
Morocco once again proves that their historic semifinal run four years ago was no fluke. The team is showcasing remarkable tactical maturity. In the group stage, they held Brazil to a draw (1-1), then knocked out the Netherlands in a penalty shootout, and in the round of 16 emphatically dismantled tournament co-hosts Canada 3-0, thanks to a brace from Azzedine Ounahi. The defense and midfield of the "Atlas Lions" are rock solid and capable of shutting down any opponent.
It’s expected that Mohamed Ouahbi will set up a deep, incredibly compact mid and low block, determined to deny Mbappé any space to make his trademark runs. The midfield trio led by Ounahi will focus on aggressive ball-winning and launching rapid counterattacks through the technical prowess of Brahim Díaz.
Probable lineups
- France: Maignan - Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne - Koné, Rabiot, Olise - Dembélé, Doué, Mbappé
- Morocco: Bono - Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui - Bouaddi, El Aynaoui, Ounahi - Díaz, El Khannouss, Rahimi
Prediction
We have two teams with incredibly organized defenses. France edged Paraguay 1-0 in the previous round, while Morocco excels at shutting down top-tier attacks. Don’t expect a goal-fest at this quarter-final stage—the match will likely hinge on the first crucial mistake. My prediction: under 2.5 goals.
