France booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday, powered by yet another masterclass from Kylian Mbappé.
Match Summary
In a quarter-final clash that pitted the 2018 champions against the history-making Moroccan side that reached the semi-finals in 2022, France demonstrated exactly why they are considered the tournament favorites. The French controlled proceedings from start to finish, with their superior attacking depth proving too much for the Atlas Lions.
After a goalless first half where Mbappé saw his penalty saved following a long VAR review, the Real Madrid superstar broke the deadlock early in the second half with a stunning strike from outside the box. The goal — described by pundits as “absolute perfection” — was Mbappé’s eighth of the tournament, matching Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot race.
Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled France’s lead with a clinical finish, effectively putting the game beyond Morocco’s reach. France could have easily scored more, hitting the woodwork through Dayot Upamecano and creating several other clear-cut chances.
Mbappé’s Historic Campaign
Kylian Mbappé has now registered 11 goal involvements (8 goals, 3 assists) in this tournament — the most by any player in a single World Cup since Gerd Müller’s 13 in 1970. He is also the only player on record (since 1966) to register 10+ goal involvements in two different World Cups, having achieved 10 in 2022 (8 goals, 2 assists).
Patrick Vieira, the former France captain, described this generation of French attackers as “maybe one of the best ever generations on that side.” Roy Keane added that “France have got more gears to go” and warned that “any chance of beating France, you’ve got to score the first goal.”
What’s Next for Les Bleus?
France advance to their third consecutive World Cup semi-final, where they will face the winner of Spain vs Belgium. The match will be played at one of the tournament’s US venues, with the final set for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Should France win their semi-final, they would be just one win away from lifting a third World Cup trophy, having won in 1998 and 2018.
2026 World Cup — Remaining Schedule
- Semi-Final 1: France vs Spain/Belgium — July 10-11
- Semi-Final 2: TBD — July 11-12
- Third-Place Playoff: July 18
- Final: July 19 — MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Frequently Asked Questions
Who scored for France against Morocco?
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a superb strike early in the second half, and Ousmane Dembélé made it 2-0 just six minutes later. Mbappé also had a first-half penalty saved by Morocco’s goalkeeper Bono.
When is the 2026 World Cup final?
The final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It will feature the first-ever Super Bowl-style halftime show produced by Global Citizen, featuring Madonna, Shakira, and BTS.