France v Morocco — The 2022 SF Rematch, Live Again
Available in USTwo years on from a 2-0 semi-final in Qatar, France and Morocco meet again with a World Cup semi-final on the line. Deschamps’ side are unbeaten in 12. Morocco are unbeaten in 10. The Atlas Lions carry Africa’s hopes — and Saibari’s hamstring is the swing.
The first quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup is a rematch. France v Morocco, 16:00 ET on Thursday 9 July (that’s 06:00 AEST on Friday 10 July) at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA — the same stage where Deschamps’ side won a semi-final 2-0 in Qatar in 2022. France open clear favourites, but Morocco are unbeaten in 10 and chasing a second straight World Cup semi-final. The Atlas Lions carry Africa’s flag. Saibari’s hamstring is the swing factor. Here’s the full preview.
Match essentials
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Fixture | France v Morocco (QF1) |
| Date | Thu 9 Jul 2026 |
| Kickoff (ET) | 16:00 |
| AEST kickoff | Fri 10 Jul, 06:00 AEST |
| Venue | Gillette Stadium, Foxborough MA |
| Roof | Open-air |
| Forecast (NWS) | Mostly sunny, high ~31°C, SW wind 8–14 km/h |
Match lines (1X2, decimal, opening)
| Book | 1 (France) | X | 2 (Morocco) | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | 1.56 | 3.90 | 6.50 (Morocco) | as of 8 Jul 2026 |
| DraftKings | 1.59 | 3.85 | 6.00 (Morocco) | as of 8 Jul 2026 |
Single-book opening prices. Treat as a range: France ~1.55–1.60, the draw ~3.85–3.90, Morocco ~6.00–6.50.
The story so far
France — perfect through six
Didier Deschamps’ side are the only team in the last eight with a perfect 6/6 record. They topped their group, then ground down a disciplined Paraguay 1-0 in the R16 — Mbappé’s 69th-minute penalty the only goal. The tournament-best 14 GF / 2 GA speaks for itself. Mbappé is fit and starting, and he’s the joint-second top scorer in the Golden Boot race on 7 (one behind Messi on 8).
"It’s another important step forward. It’s always difficult against South American teams, but I’m delighted that the players got the job done. We’re into the quarter-finals and we have to enjoy that." — Didier Deschamps (Sky Sports, 5 Jul 2026)
Morocco — Africa’s flag-bearers, chasing history
Morocco are the only African side in the last eight, having carried the continent’s hopes all tournament. They topped their group, then beat Canada 3-0 in the R16 with goals from Ounahi (50′, 82′) and Rahimi (90+8′) to send the co-hosts out. They are unbeaten in 10 competitive games under Mohamed Ouahbi.
"Whatever happens, we must be prepared and ready. Whoever the opponent is, our goal remains the same: to reach the semi-finals." — Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco World News, 4 Jul 2026)
The 2022 SF subplot
| Meeting | Result | Scorers |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 WC SF (Qatar) | France 2-0 Morocco | T. Hernández 5′, Kolo Muani 79′ |
France won the only recent competitive meeting — and quickly. T. Hernández opened inside five minutes and Kolo Muani added a second on 79 minutes after a defensive slip. Morocco have publicly played down the revenge angle ("There is no revenge. We only want to continue our journey" — Ouahbi), but don’t expect that to soften them. They have a younger, deeper squad than 2022 and the air of a side that has nothing to lose.
Key absences & team news
| Player | Status | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ismael Saibari (Morocco) | DOUBT — hamstring | Off after 22′ vs Canada; MRI = minor strain; call at Wed 8 Jul training |
| Chadi Riad (Morocco) | DOUBT — knee | Missed Canada; expected back in contention |
| Mbappé (France) | Fit, starting | 7 tournament goals (joint-second in the Golden Boot race) |
| Barcola / M. Koné / Olise (France) | One yellow each | A booking = SF ban |
| The rest of France’s squad | No reported injuries | — |
Sources: africasoccer; The National; Sports Mole preview; Elbotola — 4 to 8 Jul 2026.
How they line up (predicted)
| France (4-3-3) | Morocco (4-1-4-1) |
|---|---|
| Maignan | Bono |
| Koundé — Konaté — Upamecano — T. Hernández | Hakimi — Aguerd — Saïss — Mazraoui |
| Tchouaméni — Kanté — Camavinga (or Rabiot) | Amrabat |
| Dembélé — Mbappé — Griezmann | Ziyech — Saibari (if fit) — Ounahi — Boufal |
| En-Nesyri |
Predicted XIs based on R16 selections and team-news reports (africasoccer, 7–8 Jul 2026). Subject to late change.
What to back — value read
| Bet | Price | Why | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| France to win | 1.56–1.60 | Tournament-best defence; 12-game unbeaten run; 14 GF / 2 GA | FanDuel / DraftKings opening (8 Jul 2026) |
| Morocco +1 Asian handicap | 1.84 | Morocco +1 covers a one-goal loss; France 1.96 favourites to cover -1 | SportsGambler (8 Jul 2026) |
| Under 2.5 goals | 1.90 | France have conceded twice all tournament; Morocco have tightened up | SportsGambler (8 Jul 2026) |
| Mbappé anytime goalscorer | 1.77 (–130) | 7 tournament goals; tied with Haaland, one behind Messi; Deschamps’ penalty taker | BookmakersReview (8 Jul 2026) |
| Morocco to qualify or draw (X2 double chance) | 2.38 | If Saibari starts and Ziyech plays, the Atlas Lions can hold | SportsGambler (8 Jul 2026) |
Treat all odds as ranges — single-book opening lines; live lines move with team news.
- France 1.56–1.60 favourites (FanDuel/DraftKings); Morocco 6.00–6.50; SportsGambler posts Under 2.5 at 1.90 and Morocco +1 at 1.84.
- A 2022 SF rematch: France won 2-0 (T. Hernández 5′, Kolo Muani 79′).
- Saibari’s hamstring is the swing — call lands at Wednesday 8 Jul training.
- Mbappé sits one behind Messi in the tournament Golden Boot race (7 vs 8) — the live individual storyline for France.
More: wc-tips-9-jul, the quarter-finals overview, the live odds tracker and Morocco’s tournament page.
