France will look to keep its bid for a third World Cup title alive when it faces Morocco in a highly anticipated quarterfinal Thursday in Boston, renewing one of the tournament's most compelling recent rivalries with a place in the semifinals at stake.
The winner will advance to face either Spain or Belgium in the final four, while the loser sees its World Cup dream come to an end.
The matchup is a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, when France defeated Morocco 2-0 before eventually finishing runner-up to Argentina. Four years later, the Atlas Lions have another chance to make history, while Les Bleus are chasing a third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance under Didier Deschamps.
France has looked every bit like a title favorite throughout the tournament. Les Bleus have won all five of their matches, finishing atop Group I before eliminating Sweden and Paraguay in the knockout rounds. They have scored 13 goals while conceding only a handful of clear chances, combining attacking flair with defensive discipline.
Their toughest challenge so far came against Paraguay, whose aggressive approach frustrated the French attack for long stretches. The breakthrough finally arrived when Desire Doue won a penalty with a clever run into the box, allowing captain Kylian Mbappe to convert the decisive spot kick and send France into the quarterfinals.
