Morocco arrive at this quarterfinal under a manager who has been in the job for exactly one tournament. Walid Regragui, the architect of the 2022 semifinal run, resigned in March 2026 after a chaotic AFCON final loss to Senegal; Mohamed Ouahbi, fresh off winning the U20 World Cup, inherited the same core of players and has now guided them to a second consecutive World Cup quarterfinal. They got here by beating Canada 3-0 without ever needing to leave second gear — Azzedine Ounahi's brace and a Soufiane Rahimi seal off a Brahim Díaz assist, his fourth of the tournament, a new African record.
France, meanwhile, needed 70 minutes and a substitute's introduction to break down Paraguay's defensive block — 76% possession, 15 shots to 5, and a single Kylian Mbappé penalty to show for it after Désiré Doué was fouled in the box. Mbappé's seventh goal of the tournament leaves him one behind Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race. This is a rematch of styles: Morocco's disciplined, physical, transition-based structure against a France side that looked genuinely mortal for the first time all tournament and needs its bench, specifically Doué, to keep producing magic.
Ouahbi hasn't changed much about Regragui's defensive template — and why would he, given it's conceded almost nothing all tournament. Achraf Hakimi bombs forward from right-back at every opportunity; Sofyan Amrabat and Ounahi screen the back four and press in pairs. Rahimi and Abde Ezzalzouli provide the pace in transition that punished Canada's stretched defense. Set pieces are a genuine weapon, with Brahim Díaz's delivery a constant threat.
Didier Deschamps' side dominate possession against deep blocks but have looked short of a final incisive pass without Doué on the pitch. Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé combine well but Paraguay showed that patient, disciplined defending can frustrate France for long stretches. Expect Deschamps to consider starting Doué this time rather than risk another 70 scoreless minutes.
Morocco's defensive discipline holds for the better part of an hour, exactly as it did against Canada — until Soufiane Rahimi, leading the line in Saibari's absence, finishes a quick transition move to make it 1-0 just before the hour mark. Morocco defend the lead with the same ruthless efficiency that ended Canada's tournament.
Kylian Mbappé equalizes late, in the kind of moment that has defined his entire tournament — a driven low finish from the edge of the box that Yassine Bounou gets a hand to but can't keep out. 1-1, and Morocco's legs are visibly going after a physically exhausting 90 minutes chasing a golden opportunity.
In extra time, with Morocco's structure finally cracking under fatigue, Mbappé strikes again — his second of the match, ninth of the tournament — to send France through 2-1. A genuine classic, decided by the one player Morocco simply couldn't contain for 120 straight minutes.
A quick transition finish that puts Morocco ahead and sends Gillette Stadium's neutral crowd into a genuine frenzy for the underdog. Stepping into a starting role with Saibari sidelined, and coming off a goal from the bench against Canada.
The Golden Boot chaser levels it late in normal time, then wins it in extra time. The kind of two-goal, match-deciding shift that has defined his entire tournament.
Twenty-two years old, and the one substitute appearance that changed the entire complexion of France's Round of 16 win. If Deschamps starts him this time — and there's a real case he should — Morocco's compact structure gets a completely different problem to solve than the one it just beat Canada with.