Boston: July 10, 2026 – France secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-final clash at Gillette Stadium in the early hours of Friday.
The win keeps Didier Deschamps’ side on course for a third world title as they advanced to the last four.
Morocco produced a disciplined defensive display in the first half, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou excelling as he saved a Kylian Mbappé penalty to ensure the scores remained goalless at the break.
However, France broke the deadlock on the hour mark through Mbappé, before Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead six minutes later with a rapid counter-attack that sealed a comfortable victory for Les Bleus.
Morocco coach Walid Regragui was forced into a tough decision before kick-off, with key striker Ismael Saibari ruled out through injury – a blow that blunted the Atlas Lions’ attacking threat as they struggled to consistently test the French defence.
Mbappé redeemed his penalty miss by scoring one goal and providing an assist for Dembélé, further strengthening his position in the race for the tournament’s Golden Boot.
Tactically, France showed greater patience in possession before exploiting space in the second half, while Morocco’s swift counter-attacks were effectively neutralised by a French backline marshalled by Raphaël Varane.
