Hakimi, Mbappe Set for Blockbuster World Cup Quarter final as France Face Morocco. France and Morocco will renew their World Cup rivalry on Thursday in the opening quarterfinal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Paris Saint-Germain teammates Kylian Mbappe and Achraf Hakimi set to face each other in one of the tournament’s most anticipated fixtures.
The match rekindles memories of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, where France ended Morocco’s historic run with a 2-0 victory. This time, the Atlas Lions will be aiming to avenge that defeat and secure a place in the semifinals.Morocco booked their quarterfinal berth after a convincing victory over Canada in the Round of 16, while France edged Paraguay to continue their quest for a third World Cup title.Despite Morocco’s impressive performances, Opta’s supercomputer has tipped France as favourites to progress.
The data analysts project Les Bleus to have the stronger chance of securing victory, citing their attacking quality, tournament experience and squad depth.Much of the attention will focus on the individual battle between Mbappe and Hakimi, who share a close friendship at club level but will put that aside as they lead their respective nations in pursuit of a semifinal spot.The winner of the encounter will advance to face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals as the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup title intensifies.
Joseph Akwagiobe is a media contributor from Cross River State, Nigeria, currently based in Abuja. He is a graduate of Microbiology and has earned several professional certifications across diverse fields, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning, professional growth, and excellence.