Morocco Arrives as Title Contender, Not Underdog, Against France

Morocco faces France in a World Cup quarterfinal on July 9 in Boston—their second competitive meeting after France won the 2022 semifinal. The difference now: Morocco beat the Netherlands and crushed Canada 3-0, entering as a genuine contender rather than the underdog story of 2022. Opta's model favors France at 61.7% to win inside 90 minutes, but Morocco's attacking conviction and European scalp shift the narrative entirely.