France and Morocco, a clash with history

The 2026 World Cup revives one of the most intense stories of the last edition: France and Morocco face each other again, now in the quarterfinals, with the memory of Qatar 2022 still fresh. That semifinal ended in a French triumph, but the emotional charge of this new encounter promises a vibrant match. Morocco is no longer the surprise, but a well-established team that confirmed its place among the best after beating Canada. France, true to its status as a powerhouse, confidently advanced from the group stage and eliminated Paraguay, with Mbappé as the undisputed leader.

The Hakimi-Mbappé duel and the pending rematch

Achraf Hakimi will be the star of a special match, facing off against old PSG teammates, including Mbappé, with whom he shares a close friendship despite not being on the same team. That mutual familiarity adds tension to a match where every detail can define the outcome. Morocco will seek revenge after the blow in 2022, when Theo Hernández opened the scoring in the fifth minute and Randal Kolo Muani sealed the 2-0 result in the final stretch. France will rely on its experience and the memory of that triumph to try to repeat history.

Names that repeat and statistics that weigh

From Qatar to the United States, the squads maintain continuity. France retains nine players from that semifinal, including Hernández, Koundé, Upamecano, Tchouaméni, Rabiot, Mbappé, and Dembélé. Morocco has eight, with Bono, Hakimi, Mazraoui, and Amrabat as the mainstays. The record favors the French with five victories in six matches, with only one loss in 1998 in Casablanca. However, Morocco arrives with the conviction that this time it can change the script and write a new page in its World Cup history

WATCH beIN SPORTS XTRA LIVE FOR FREE ON YOUTUBE