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

As the 2026 World Cup approaches, the clash between France and Morocco draws attention for what it represents in football history. France, a nation that has lifted the World Cup trophy twice, enters with a squad led by the prolific Kylian Mbappe, aiming to claim their third title. Morocco, meanwhile, has etched its name in the record books as the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals in 2022. Now back in the quarterfinals, Morocco faces France again, echoing their recent memorable encounter.

Previous Matches and Competitive Edge

The two countries have met six times internationally but only once on the World Cup stage. Of those six matches, four were competitive fixtures, while two were friendlies. Their rivalry gained more prominence after the 2022 World Cup semifinal meeting, where France won 2-0.

Their first match dates back to the 1988 Tournoi de France, where France narrowly beat Morocco 2-1. They also faced off in the King Hassan II Cup, adding layers to their shared history.

Head-to-Head Record

France leads the overall series with four victories against Morocco's single win, alongside one draw. Excluding friendly matches, the record still favors France with three wins to Morocco’s one. The teams’ World Cup encounters remain limited to their recent 2022 semifinal showdown.

Most Recent Meeting: 2022 World Cup Semifinal

The latest encounter was a high-stakes match at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, held at Al Bayt Stadium. Morocco had stunned the world by reaching the semifinals, but France proved a tough obstacle. Theo Hernandez scored early in the 5th minute, and Randal Kolo Muani added another late goal to seal a 2-0 victory for France.

France advanced to the final but lost to Argentina in a penalty shootout, while Morocco finished fourth after a defeat to Croatia in the third-place game.