World Cup Predictions for 7/9/26

France vs Morocco

Score Prediction: France 2, Morocco 1

 

We kick-off the quarter-finals with a rematch of the semi-finals from the 2022 World Cup in France vs Morocco. France has looked the best of any side in this tournament thus far, but there is no doubt this is the toughest test they’ve faced to date. France clearly took their last match-up against Paraguay personally. I will admit that Paraguay didn’t look interested in playing the game at all, and after Kylian Mbappe condemned racist remarks made by a Paraguayan Senator you can see just how motivated he is to win this tournament. He really struggled at Real Madrid this past season and I think that was weighing on him when the tournament began against Senegal. But, after he found the back of the net once he – and his team – were off to the races. 

 

France won the World Cup when Mbappe broke onto the scene in 2018 and finished runner up in 2022. I think this French side is better than both of those, and it’s all culminating with sending Didier Deschamps off with a World Cup victory in his last go around as manager. Morocco has played differently under Mohamed Ouahbi which I noted in my blog when they faced Canada. I think they will want to be assertive with the ball here and that’s not really something France has faced yet. France is going to be absolutely lethal on the counter with Olise, Mbappe and Dembele leading the charge and I think they could almost bait Morocco into playing on the front foot and absolutely cooking them on the counter attack. I think this will be a really hard fought game, and if Morocco was playing anyone else I would probably be on them for an upset in this spot. Everyone will be on Mbappe here as he participates in the greatest Golden Boot race we’ve ever seen – and rightfully so. Michael Olise has been lethal, tallying five assists and while he hasn’t scored a goal yet I think today could be the day if France takes advantage of the counter like I think they can.