Morocco and France players, bound by friendship, face off at World Cup

Adam Lucente

Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech of Morocco celebrate after the team's victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on December 10, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) — Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech of Morocco celebrate after their team's victory during the World Cup quarter final match between Morocco and Portugal at Al Thumama Stadium on Dec. 10, 2022, in Doha, Qatar. — Francois Nel/Getty Images

The Moroccan and French soccer teams will face off in a historic World Cup semifinal in Doha on Wednesday.

The match will begin at 2 p.m. ET at Al Bayt Stadium. France won the last World Cup in 2018, and many soccer analysts are picking France to win. However, underdog Morocco was not favored to win against Spain in round 16 and Portugal in the quarterfinals, but won both games.

Morocco became the first team from North Africa or the Middle East to reach a World Cup semifinal last week when it defeated Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal. Morocco has received heavy coverage in Arab media as a result, and many people from the region and the African continent are rooting for it.

🇲🇦👑🫶🏽… @AchrafHakimi pic.twitter.com/fDCyfMI7LM

Morocco and France players, bound by friendship, face off at World Cup

Morocco beat expectations in Doha last week by becoming the first African and Arabic-speaking country to make it to a World Cup semifinal.

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