France midfielder Adrien Rabiot has stirred controversy after claiming Les Bleus «didn’t have to worry a lot» about Morocco following their 2-0 victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Rabiot said France felt Morocco posed little attacking threat throughout the game, adding that the team «had little to fear» despite the Atlas Lions’ impressive run to the last eight. France secured their place in the semi-finals with goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele after controlling much of the contest.
Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022, entered the match with high expectations but struggled to create clear scoring opportunities. France’s disciplined midfield and defence limited the North African side to few meaningful chances, prompting Rabiot’s blunt assessment after the final whistle.
France will now face the winner of the Spain-Belgium quarter-final as they continue their bid for another World Cup title. Rabiot’s comments are likely to fuel debate among Moroccan supporters, who have celebrated their team’s continued emergence as one of international football’s strongest sides.
