France vs Morocco: A Look Back at Their World Cup Encounters and Rivalry
France and Morocco are set to face each other again at the 2026 World Cup, adding another chapter to their interesting football history. France has a rich legacy with two World Cup titles and is led by Kylian Mbappe, aiming for their third trophy. Morocco made waves recently by reaching the semifinals in 2022, becoming the first African team to do so, and now they find themselves once more facing France in the quarterfinals.
Previous Meetings
The two teams have met six times before, but only once during a World Cup. Four of those matches were competitive, excluding two friendlies. Their rivalry gained momentum with their World Cup clash in 2022.
France and Morocco’s first encounter happened at the 1988 Tournoi de France, where France won 2-1. They also faced off in the King Hassan II Cup and various international friendlies over the years.
Head-to-Head Record
France leads the series with four wins to Morocco’s one, and one match ended in a draw. If friendlies are excluded, France still holds a 3-1 advantage. The sole World Cup meeting was in 2022, where France secured a 2-0 victory in the semifinals.
The Last Encounter: 2022 World Cup Semifinal
Their last match took place at Al Bayt Stadium during the 2022 World Cup semifinals. Morocco had made history by becoming the first African team to reach this stage, but France proved tough to beat. Theo Hernandez scored early in the fifth minute, and Randal Kolo Muani added a second goal late in the match. France went on to lose the final against Argentina on penalties, while Morocco finished fourth after losing to Croatia in the third-place match.
