The World Cup quarterfinals get underway on Thursday as France, many people’s favourites to go on and lift the trophy, take on a highly rated Morocco at Boston Stadium.
France have reached the last two World Cup finals, winning the tournament in 2018 before being edged out by Argentina on penalties four years later.
Didier Deschamps’ side appear to be once again mounting a serious challenge and their odds of +175 to go all the way reflects not only the talent within their squad but also their performances since touching down in North America.
Morocco were also being talked up before the tournament and the 2022 semifinalists have lived up to that billing, coming through their group unbeaten before seeing off the Netherlands and co-hosts Canada in their first two knockout rounds.
This is a repeat of the 2022 semifinal between the pair, which ended 2-0 in favour of France. Can Les Bleus repeat that trick or are Morocco set to make it back-to-back visits to the final four?
France vs. Morocco betting picks and predictions
France to win to nil (+150)
France came into this tournament with arguably the best offense in world football and the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and reigning Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele have not disappointed.
Scoring goals is certainly not an issue for Les Bleus, but ominously for their World Cup rivals, their defence has also looked imperious.
The two-time world champions have conceded just twice at the tournament - a 90th-minute consolation against Senegal in their group opener and another largely meaningless goal in their win over Norway when qualification for the round of 32 had already been assured.
In their two knockout stage matches, France are yet to concede, shutting out both Sweden and Paraguay, with the latter failing to even register a shot on target.
Morocco are a better side than both those teams, but their offensive threat looks set to be blunted by the likely absence of top scorer Ismael Saibari, who suffered a reported hamstring injury in the round of 16 win over Canada.
Saibari, who recently completed a big-money transfer to German giants Bayern Munich from PSV Eindhoven, has scored three goals for Morocco at the finals and his impending absence will be felt.
France won 2-0 when these two sides met in the 2022 World Cup semifinals and a similar scoreline could play out on Thursday.
Kylian Mbappe or Michael Olise to assist (+105)
Mbappe's affinity with the World Cup has continued in North America, as he has scored seven goals, taking his overall tally at the global showpiece to a phenomenal 19 goals in 19 appearances.
It is no surprise, therefore, that the Real Madrid star is -110 to score against Morocco, but he does also have two assists at the tournament and it could be worth siding with him or teammate Olise to set up a goal at +105.
Olise has been the assist king for France, setting up a tournament-high five goals to go alongside the 31 he laid on for teammates during the 2025/26 club season with Bayern Munich.
Mbappe and Olise are both world-class talents and, at the very least, one of them should be able to set up a goal in Foxborough.
Neil El Aynaoui 3+ fouls committed (+175)
Neil El Aynaoui has started all five of Morocco's matches at this World Cup and the defensive midfielder is likely to be kept busy by France's fluent midfield as well as forwards Mbappe, Olise and Dembele dropping into pockets of space.
The Roma ace has committed a team-high 11 fouls at the tournament and he tends to give them away in the tougher games, with nine of the 11 he has conceded coming in the group-stage meeting with Brazil and round of 32 clash with the Netherlands.
El Aynaoui gave away 23 fouls from just eight starts for Roma in Serie A during 2025/26 and he may become well acquainted with the referee during Thursday's quarterfinal showdown.
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France vs. Morocco Odds
France | -175 |
Tie | +290 |
Morocco | +500 |
France vs. Morocco player props
Anytime Goalscorer
Kylian Mbappe (France) | -110 |
Ousmane Dembele (France) | +200 |
Michael Olise (France) | +250 |
Bradley Barcola (France) | +250 |
Brahim Diaz (Morocco) | +450 |
Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco) | +650 |
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
