BOSTON: France secured a place in the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 win over Morocco in an entertaining quarter-final at Boston Stadium.
Second-half goals from captain Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele guided France into the last four, marking the nation’s third consecutive appearance in a World Cup semi-final.
Morocco began the match brightly and matched France’s intensity in the opening exchanges, limiting the defending European giants’ attacking opportunities. The Atlas Lions looked threatening on the break through Brahim Diaz and Achraf Hakimi, but struggled to convert promising moves into clear scoring chances against France’s well-organised defence.
France gradually gained control before half-time and created the better opportunities. Mbappe came close to opening the scoring and also failed to convert a penalty, leaving the match goalless at the interval.
The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Mbappe curled a clinical finish past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after being set up by Desire Doue. The strike was Mbappe’s eighth goal of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
France doubled their lead six minutes later as Ousmane Dembele unleashed a right-footed effort from outside the penalty area. Although Bounou managed to get a hand to the shot, he could not keep it out. The goal was Dembele’s fifth of the tournament.
Morocco continued to press in search of a way back into the contest, but France defended resolutely to preserve their two-goal advantage and book a place in the semi-finals.
The defeat brought an end to Morocco’s impressive World Cup campaign, while France moved a step closer to another world title. Didier Deschamps’ side will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals.
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