France became the first team to book their place in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco in Boston, setting the stage for a dramatic knockout finale over the coming week.
Kylian Mbappé produced yet another moment of magic to break Moroccan resistance, scoring a stunning solo goal and setting up Ousmane Dembélé for the second as Les Bleus flexed their attacking muscle. The win extended France’s unbeaten run in the tournament and reinforced their status as heavy favorites to lift the trophy on July 19.
Mbappé – Penalty Miss, Then Perfection
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for the French captain. Mbappé saw a first-half penalty saved by Morocco’s Yassine Bounou after a lengthy VAR check. The delay — over three minutes — seemed to rattle the striker as his spot-kick was driven weakly to Bounou’s left.
But true to his world-class pedigree, Mbappé responded in style. On the hour mark, a loose clearance was nodded down to Lucas Digne, who played the ball into the box for Mbappé. With Issa Diop standing in front of him, Mbappé used the defender as a shield, striking the ball with vicious dip at 98kph past Bounou and inside the far post. It was an unstoppable, breathtaking finish.
Six minutes later, Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé doubled the lead, arcing a shot past Bounou with Mazraoui blocking the keeper’s view. The game was effectively over.
France’s Golden Generation
This France side has now scored 16 goals in six matches — more than any other team in the tournament. Mbappé leads the Golden Boot race with eight goals (level with Lionel Messi but ahead on assists), while Ballon d’Or holder Dembélé has five.
Patrick Vieira called this squad “one of the best ever,” praising the depth of attacking talent that goes beyond just the star duo: Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Jean-Philippe Mateta all provide game-changing options from the bench.
After 14 years at the helm and with this being his final tournament, manager Didier Deschamps has his side playing with a freedom rarely seen in his tenure.
Quarter-Final Round-Up: What’s Left
The race to the final is wide open with three more quarter-finals to play:
| Match | Date | Time (BST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain vs Belgium | Fri 10 July | 20:00 | Los Angeles |
| Norway vs England | Sat 11 July | 22:00 | Atlanta |
| Argentina vs Switzerland | Sun 12 July | 02:00 | New York |
Norway vs England – The Big One
The biggest storyline of the weekend is Erling Haaland’s Norway facing England in a massive quarter-final. Haaland has already knocked out Brazil in the Round of 16 with a brace, and the Manchester City star insists “the pressure is all on England.”
England, under Thomas Tuchel, have shown resilience — coming from behind to beat Mexico 3-2 in the last 16 — but face their toughest test yet against a Norway side playing with nothing to lose.
Spain vs Belgium
Today’s quarter-final in Los Angeles sees two European heavyweights collide. Belgium’s evolved golden generation faces Spain — the only team yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
Upcoming Schedule
- Semi-Finals: July 14-15 in Dallas
- Final: Sunday, July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
- 3rd Place Playoff: Saturday, July 18
FAQ
Q: Who are the top scorers at World Cup 2026?
A: Kylian Mbappé (France) and Lionel Messi (Argentina) are tied on 8 goals each. Ousmane Dembélé (France) has 5.
Q: When is the World Cup 2026 final?
A: Sunday, July 19, 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Q: Which team is favored to win?
A: France are the clear favorites — highest-scoring team (16 goals), immense depth, and playing with freedom under outgoing manager Deschamps.
Q: Will the US-hosted tournament continue in future?
A: The 2026 edition is jointly hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico. The 2030 World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain.