Morocco Looking for 2022 Revenge in Boston Showdown – Here’s How You Can Profit

France and Morocco are due to battle once more, with a repeat of the 2022 semi-final set to take place in Foxborough on Thursday evening. Kylian Mbappe is on course to win Player of the Tournament, whilst the African champions have one of the best overall team units in international football. Morocco are out for revenge for their 2022 defeat, and this 21:00 BST kick-off at Boston Stadium promises to be a classic.

Will Morocco be Able to Stop the Mbappe/Dembele/Olise Trident?

For all the talk about England’s spectacular victory over co-hosts Mexico, as well as Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotional departure from international football, the story of the 2026 World Cup has been the level of sheer perfection that France’s attacking trio has provided.

Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise are three of the best footballers in the world in their own right, but when you put them together, you get a virtually unstoppable attack.

Mbappe, the leading man, has scored seven goals and contributed two assists at this World Cup, whilst Dembele has ably supported him from the right flank with four goals and two assists.

Olise has turned into France’s creator-in-chief, registering five assists across his five appearances in the tournament. He hasn’t found the net himself, but the Bayern Munich star has been a perfect foil for his two partners.

Morocco has every reason to be scared. That is as frightening an attacking trio as football has seen for many years. Les Bleus lead the way for both total goals and assists at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the African side will need to lean on their defence.

The defensive line, led by Noussair Mazraoui, has conceded just four goals throughout the entire tournament, forcing the fourth-highest number of turnovers with 226. Spain are the only team left standing that trumps Morocco in that particular metric.

Which Markets Should You Focus on?

Unsurprisingly, France are the overwhelming favourites with Betway offering odds of 1.57 for Les Bleus to win the match. This carries an implied probability of 64%. Conversely, Betway are giving just 6.00 for a Morocco victory, with an implied probability of a lowly 17%.

That seems harsh to me. France are clearly the best team in the tournament, but Morocco are dangerous, and they’re incredibly well organised.

You don’t concede just four goals through to the quarter-final stage by accident, and they’ve faced some decent teams en route to this stage.

Betway are trying to tempt people with their game-specific boost markets, but it might not be a disaster to look into them.

For Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise to have 7+ shots on target combined, Betway are offering odds of 8.50. That feels like a long shot based on the implied probability of just 12%… but is it?

Les Bleus are averaging 7.8 shots on target per match as a team, which makes the probability of such an outcome slightly higher. It’s by no means a cheat to beat the bookies, but it’s a potentially interesting market if you’re brave enough.

Morocco’s defence can be incredibly tough to break down. For a team that has suffered for so long on the international stage, this current crop of players is easily the most talented Morocco has ever produced.

Not only do they defend well, but they also keep the ball. Very few passes go astray, and throughout the tournament, they have an average possession of 60.4%, which is the third highest of teams left in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In Ayyoub Bouaddi, they have an absolute star, who has been as good in possession as anyone this summer.

If you consider all this, there is the possibility that Morocco are able to take Les Bleus all the way to penalties. I don’t think the African side can outscore France, so winning the match is going to be really difficult, but with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou’s burgeoning reputation as a penalty shoot-out specialist, Betway’s odds of 3.80 for Morocco to qualify might be an avenue to take.

Best Predictions for the Match

As good as Morocco’s defence can be, we’re talking about a truly supreme French forward line. I don’t see the African side keeping a clean sheet; it will be more a case of limiting the French trident.

I see a lot of value going with a double that combines Both Teams to Score and France to win @ 3.75 (Betway).

My alternative pick would be a double that combines Michael Olise to provide either a goal or assist at any time, and total goals to be under 4.5 @ 3.75 (Betway).

Key Statistics

• France and Morocco have faced each other six times, with Morocco never having beaten Les Bleus in either 90 or 120 minutes. Their one victory came through a penalty shootout in the 1998 King Hassan II Cup.
• Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele are directly responsible for 11 of France’s 14 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is 71%.
• Morocco has won their last four penalty shootouts, whilst France’s last two World Cup shootouts have ended in defeat.
• Morocco are one of the hardest-working teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, registering 2,488 sprints, which is the third-highest at the tournament.

Predicted Lineups and Missing Players

France (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan – Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne – Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot – Michael Olise, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola – Kylian Mbappe.

France will miss Aurelien Tchouameni through an adductor injury that kept him out of the Round of 16 clash with Paraguay.

Morocco (4-2-3-1): Yassine Bounou – Achraf Hakimi, Issa Diop, Redouane Halhal, Noussair Mazraoui – Ayyoub Bouaddi, Neil El Aynaoui – Azzedine Ounahi, Brahim Diaz, Bilal El Khannouss – Soufiane Rahimi.

Morocco are awaiting updates on Ismael Saibari’s fitness after their leading goalscorer suffered a hamstring injury against Canada – although he isn’t expected to be ready to start.

France’s Attacking Power Will Eventually See Them Through

I think Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele will prove too strong for Morocco, despite their defensive strength. This will be a tight game, with a lot of fouls, but eventually Les Bleus’ quality will make the difference.

*Odds are subject to change.

For my other FIFA World Cup 2026 analysis and predictions, click here.

The Battle of the Ws

For the Battle of the Ws in this round, I will use my entire £10 on a double bet in the France vs Morocco fixture. I will go with France to win and Both Teams to score @ 3.75 with Betway. A damaging run has left me way behind Russell, but could this pick be the start of a miraculous comeback? Follow my progress against Russell Wingham in the Battle of the Ws.