France have secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-0 in Thursday’s quarter-final clash at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with a stunning curling strike before providing the assist for Ousmane Dembélé, who doubled France’s lead just six minutes later to seal the victory.
Mbappé bounced back after missing a first-half penalty, with Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou denying his spot-kick. The Real Madrid forward responded in style, scoring his eighth goal of the tournament to draw level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Dembélé, the reigning Ballon d’Or winner, calmly finished from Mbappé’s pass to put the match beyond Morocco, whose impressive World Cup journey came to an end despite another determined display.
The victory keeps France on course for a third FIFA World Cup title after lifting the trophy in 1998 and 2018. Les Bleus will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals as they continue their pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup final under head coach Didier Deschamps.
Morocco exit the tournament with pride after another memorable campaign, showcasing a talented squad expected to play a major role when they co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
