France continued their impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign by defeating Morocco 2-0 in the first quarter-final on Friday (IST), securing a place in the tournament’s last four and creating a new piece of World Cup history.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele in the second half guided Didier Deschamps’ side to victory in Boston, ending Morocco’s spirited run while extending France’s unbeaten record in the tournament.
Mbappe bounces back after first-half penalty miss
France dominated the early stages and earned a penalty in the first half after Mbappe was brought down inside the box. However, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced an excellent save to deny the French captain from the spot.
The missed opportunity did not affect Mbappe’s confidence. He returned after the break with a brilliant strike from outside the penalty area in the 60th minute to give France the lead.
Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembele doubled the advantage with a superb long-range finish, putting the result beyond Morocco’s reach.
Mbappe was substituted late in the game after appearing to suffer a minor injury scare, although France comfortably protected their two-goal lead until the final whistle.
France script another World Cup milestone
The victory sees France reach the FIFA World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive edition, having won the title in 2018 and finished runners-up in 2022.
It is the first time in the nation’s history that France have reached the final four in three successive World Cups.
The French side also remains the only team in the 2026 tournament to have won every match within regulation time, highlighting its consistency throughout the competition.
Morocco’s memorable campaign comes to an end
Morocco bowed out after another impressive World Cup performance that showcased the country’s growing strength in international football.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was among the standout performers, making several crucial saves to keep Morocco in the contest. Players including Brahim Diaz, Ismael Saibari and Ayyoub Bouaddi also delivered determined performances despite the defeat.
Although Morocco’s dream of another historic semi-final appearance ended, the team’s campaign reinforced its status as one of Africa’s leading football nations.
France await semi-final opponent
France will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Spain and Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals.
With attacking stars such as Mbappe, Dembele and Michael Olise in top form, France will head into the next stage as one of the favourites to lift the World Cup trophy.
The remaining quarter-finals will determine whether France could meet England, Norway, Argentina or Switzerland in a potential final.
