Morocco is preparing to face France this Thursday in the World Cup quarter-finals, a clash laden with symbolism that transcends the sporting aspect. The match evokes the historical ties between the two nations, their shared colonial past, and the memory of Morocco’s elimination in the Qatar 2022 semi-finals, when the French team defeated the Moroccan Selection 2-0 on their first appearance at this stage.
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Despite this precedent, Moroccan fans are combining optimism with caution given the level of play shown by the French team. However, confidence in the national team has grown. “For the Moroccan public, the approach to the match against France is different than it was for the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Although that match was a semifinal, there was a lot of fear. Today, the conviction is greater,” Hamza Chtioui, a sports journalist for the Moroccan website Hespress, told the EFE news agency.
Chtioui pointed out that the Moroccan national team, ranked sixth in the FIFA rankings, faces an opponent with stars, experience, and technical stability, but one that “has significant weaknesses in its defensive line.” “Our fans are no longer just dreaming like they did in Qatar; today I firmly believe that the team can pull off an upset,” the journalist stated.
This hope is widespread among the population. Amal, a 36-year-old civil servant, said: “We will win. If we do, there will be a before and after, even in the perception of our political relationship with France.”
Morocco have and are increcible ….
• 34-Game unbetaen Streak.
• Not lost a competitive fixture since a 1–0 defeat to Kenya in August 2025.
• Lost two Games since January 2024.𝐀𝐭𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞.
pic.twitter.com/nqAkMcA3yY
— António Mango (@AntonioMango4) July 8, 2026
Fans are organizing themselves into groups of friends and family in cafes, bars, and fan zones to watch the match. In cities like Rabat, it’s impossible to find a seat once the game has started, so some of the crowd watches standing.
Mustapha Ounejma, manager of the Poulhe cafe, noted that customers occupy tables up to four hours in advance, forcing them to raise prices; a cup of tea went from €1.50 to €5 and is often served with sweets due to the lack of turnover. “When I ask some of my customers about the match against France, they tell me we’ll win. Sometimes they even say it will be by a lot of goals,” Ounejma commented.
To alleviate the pressure on establishments, the government set up fan zones in airports and tourist and archaeological sites. At the Moulay Hassan stadium in Rabat, tickets range from €10 to €100 to watch the match on giant screens in a festive atmosphere. Following Morocco’s recent 3-0 victory over Canada in the round of 16, fans have taken to the streets en masse to celebrate with banners, music, and flares.
Chtioui emphasized the strong desire for revenge: “If Morocco beats France, talk will begin about the possibility of winning the World Cup, even though the road ahead remains difficult. Nevertheless, ambition will grow and hope will intensify.”
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) June 24, 2026
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