Morocco seeks World Cup revenge vs France in Boston quarterfinals

Morocco became the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022 and now aims to go further, facing France in the 2026 quarterfinals in Boston on July 9. The Atlas Lions avenged their 2022 semifinal loss by beating Netherlands on penalties and crushing Canada 3-0 to reach the last eight. Morocco's defense, led by Issa Diop, has been solid throughout the tournament.

For Nigerians, Morocco represents Africa's last hope in this World Cup after early exits by other African teams. The North African side seeks to become the first African team to reach a World Cup final, building on their historic 2022 semifinal run. Key players include defender Issa Diop and a resilient squad that has defeated Canada and the Netherlands en route to the quarterfinals.

The rematch carries extra significance after Morocco's narrow loss to France in the 2022 semifinals. Les Bleus, led by Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, enter as favorites after convincing wins over Paraguay and Sweden. The winner faces either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals.

Will Morocco's defensive resilience and historical motivation be enough to overcome France's star-studded attack and finally break Africa's World Cup final barrier?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/08/world-cup-eight-teams-remain-in-the-hunt-for-glory/