Defending champions France national football team booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco national football team, thanks to second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé.
The quarterfinal clash remained goalless at halftime despite France creating several promising chances. Morocco defended resolutely and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced key saves, including denying Mbappé from the penalty spot in the opening half to keep the Atlas Lions in the contest.
France finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute when captain Mbappé redeemed himself after the missed penalty. The forward curled a superb finish beyond Bounou, sending the French supporters into celebration. The goal was Mbappé’s eighth of the tournament, further strengthening his challenge for the Golden Boot while equalling Lionel Messi’s World Cup goal tally.
Just six minutes later, France doubled their advantage. Mbappé was once again involved in the attacking move before Dembélé calmly finished to make it 2-0, effectively ending Morocco’s hopes of another famous comeback. France controlled possession in the closing stages and comfortably saw out the match to secure a third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance.
Morocco’s remarkable tournament run came to an end after becoming the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarterfinals in this edition. Despite the defeat, the Atlas Lions earned widespread praise for eliminating several strong opponents and once again showcasing the rapid rise of African football on the global stage.
France manager Didier Deschamps hailed his team’s discipline and attacking quality, while Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged that France were the better side on the night and wished his players success as they continue building toward future tournaments.
With the victory, France advanced to the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal between Spain national football team and Belgium national football team for a place in the World Cup final.
