Morocco leave the 2026 World Cup with their heads held high
Despite the 0-2 defeat to France in the quarter-final, Morocco leave the 2026 World Cup with their heads held high, after a run that confirms their Qatar 2022 heroics were no fluke.
France
Morocco- 90'Final score: France 2 - 0 Morocco
- 87'Substitution: ↑ M. Gusto / ↓ J. Kounde (France)
- 85'Substitution: ↑ A. Sbai / ↓ C. Talbi (Morocco)
- 77'Substitution: ↑ B. Barcola / ↓ D. Doue (France)
- 77'Substitution: ↑ J. Mateta / ↓ K. Mbappe (France)
- 74'Substitution: ↑ Z. El Ouahdi / ↓ A. Salah-Eddine (Morocco)
- 74'Substitution: ↑ G. Yassine / ↓ B. Diaz (Morocco)
- 71'Substitution: ↑ W. Zaire-Emery / ↓ M. Kone (France)
- 66'⚽ Goal for France (O. Dembele)
- 63'Yellow card: Issa Diop (Morocco)
- 62'Substitution: ↑ S. Rahimi / ↓ B. El Khannouss (Morocco)
- 62'Substitution: ↑ S. Amrabat / ↓ A. Bouaddi (Morocco)
- 60'⚽ Goal for France (K. Mbappe)
- 45'Half-time
- 28'Penalty missed: Kylian Mbappé (France)
- 0'Kick-off
Morocco lost 0-2 to France in the 2026 World Cup quarter-final, but the Atlas Lions leave the tournament with their heads held high, after a run that deserves nothing but respect.
The Moroccans put in a respectable display against one of the world's best sides, dominating possession (52%) and firing 22 shots (8 on target) compared to just 14 French attempts, without managing to convert that statistical edge into goals.
This second straight quarter-final appearance, following Qatar 2022, confirms that the current generation, led by Achraf Hakimi and Azzedine Ounahi, was no passing guest among the world's elite, but a force now firmly established among the game's biggest nations.
Morocco took on this challenge without their injured top scorer Ismael Saibari, making the team's performance against a French side who went on to reach the semi-final all the more remarkable.
Morocco close the book on this World Cup with pride, leaving a strong impression that points to even bigger ambitions ahead.
