The Moroccan national team is moving towards a new milestone in its historic journey, when it faces France on Thursday evening (July 9th) at the Boston Stadium, in a rematch of the semi-finals of the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the night that stopped the dream of the "Atlas Lions" at the borders of the Golden Square, and today, the same scene returns, but under different circumstances, and with a clear ambition: to pay back the debt and continue to write history.
Morocco... A strong track that restores hope for a new achievement
Morocco entered the 2026 edition with high confidence, and succeeded in presenting a remarkable group stage as they drew with Brazil 1–1, beat Scotland 1–0 and beat Haiti 4–2, and in the second round drew with the Netherlands 1–1 before overcoming them on penalties and then defeating Canada, one of the tournament's host countries, 3–0, in the round of 16.
This track reflects a clear development in the team's performance, and gives Moroccans a sense that the match against France is not just a revenge match, but a new station to prove that Qatar's achievement was not a coincidence, and that the team is capable of competing with the game's greats despite the technical and financial differences.
France... A striking force and results that prove its position among the candidates
The French national team enters the quarter-finals with a great deal of historical weight, with results that confirm its readiness to compete for the third title, after beating Senegal 2–0 and Iraq 3–1 before defeating Norway 2–0, and in the round of 16 beating Paraguay 1–0.
This exemplary record reinforces the Roosters' position as one of the leading contenders for the crown, based on a strong presence in the 2018 and 2022 editions, and an attacking arsenal led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Ulysses.
Huge financial differences. and historical market values
France enters the match as the most expensive team in the history of the World Cup with a market value of 1.52 billion euros, while the value of its starting line-up in one of the matches of the current edition is 908 million euros, which is an unprecedented record.
The attacking force alone exceeds 550 million euros, which reflects the size of the financial and technical superiority of the French team, while the market value of the Moroccan team is only 447.4 million euros, less than a third of the value of France, and Achraf Hakimi tops the list of the most expensive players in Morocco with 80 million euros, followed by Ayoub Bouadi with 50 million euros.
Despite the big difference, Morocco is betting on the collective spirit , defensive solidity and experience accumulated since Qatar's achievement, elements that have proven their ability to turn expectations around on more than one occasion.
France is looking for a third star, and Morocco is looking to write a new chapter in a story that began in Qatar and is still ongoing, between a team that owns the most expensive, and a team that has the spirit... All eyes are on Boston, where one of the most important pages of the 2026 World Cup could be written.
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