- France have won 9 of their last 10 games, Morocco have won their last 4 in a row.
- The French have scored 26 goals in their last 10 matches, Morocco have scored 26 in their last 10 as well.
- Kylian Mbappe has scored 2 goals in 1 match in this FIFA World Cup - Knockout Stage 2026 for France, Azzedine Ounahi has scored 2 in 2 in this competition for Morocco.
Familiar foes France and Morocco
France arrive at Boston Stadium as the 11/20 favourites to beat a Morocco side priced at 13/2, with the draw at 53/20. Les Bleus have won 9 of their last 10 and come into this game on the back of a 5-game winning streak, which included a 3-0 win over Sweden and 1-0 win over Paraguay in this FIFA World Cup - Knockout Stage 2026.
The Moroccan Atlas Lions are enjoying a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions (W7, D3) and have proven to be a tough watch under Mohamed Ouahbi since he took over as manager on 6 March 2026. The 4-2-3-1 system they've deployed has been a solid, compact structure and it has allowed them to pick their moments to punish France when they overcommit.
Morocco have beaten Haiti 4-2, the Netherlands on penalties and Canada 3-0 in the FIFA World Cup - Knockout Stage 2026, so they'll come into this one with a great sense of confidence. They will need it as they will face France's best player, Kylian Mbappe, who has the pace and finish to punish any gaps in the Moroccan defence.
Mbappe to decide France vs Morocco matchup
The last meeting between these two sides was a 2-0 win for France in the FIFA World Cup - Knockout Stage, so don't expect this to be an easy game for Morocco on Thursday. Didier Deschamps has a fantastic record with Les Bleus since taking charge on 8 July 2012 and he has developed a side that plays a hybrid 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 system in order to overload zones, play vertical soccer and get the ball back in short bursts.
Morocco will have to be very organised to stifle Mbappe and his team and as they've had a lot of time to prepare, we expect them to be ready in the system. Morocco will keep it tight at the back and look to break, where Azzedine Ounahi's goals have been especially deadly this tournament.
There's little to split these two in the stats, Morocco average as many goals per game as France do and they've both won most of their recent games. However, Mbappe's ability to burst away from his markers with pace and the quality Ounahi has in the midfield is the difference. France should win, but Morocco's solidity and unbeaten run makes us lean towards a France win.
