France vs Morocco: A Look Back at Their World Cup Encounters and Rivalry

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, all eyes turn to an exciting clash between France and Morocco. These teams bring rich histories to the pitch, with France known as a two-time World Cup champion, and Morocco making waves with historic runs in recent tournaments.

France, led by star Kylian Mbappe, is chasing its third World Cup title. Meanwhile, Morocco continues to impress after becoming the first African team to reach the semifinals in 2022. Now, Morocco returns to the quarterfinals where France once again stands as a formidable obstacle.

Head-to-Head Record and Past Meetings

The teams have met six times before, but only once in the World Cup. Four of those encounters were competitive matches, while two were friendlies. Their rivalry gained more attention following the 2022 World Cup semifinal showdown.

Historically, France leads the series with four wins, while Morocco has one victory and one draw. Discounting friendlies from 1999 and 2007, France still holds a 3-1 edge in competitive fixtures.

Memorable Matches Between France and Morocco

Before 2022, these teams never crossed paths at the World Cup. Morocco's run to the semifinals in Qatar was historic, marking the first time an African nation reached that stage. They faced France at Al Bayt Stadium, battling for a spot in the final.

France secured the win with an early goal by Theo Hernandez in the fifth minute and a late strike from Randal Kolo Muani in the 79th minute. France advanced to the final but eventually lost to Argentina on penalties. Morocco finished fourth after losing the third-place match to Croatia.