France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a controlled 2-0 victory over Morocco at Boston Stadium.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring on the hour before assisting Ousmane Dembélé six minutes later, ending Morocco’s impressive tournament run and keeping France’s title challenge firmly on course.
Morocco Hold France Before Half-Time
France controlled most of the attacking play in the opening half but found it difficult to break down Morocco’s compact defensive structure.
Didier Deschamps’ side created several early opportunities through Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Mbappé, while Dayot Upamecano also had a header cleared.
The best chance arrived after a VAR review awarded France a penalty in the 28th minute.
Mbappé stepped forward but failed to convert, allowing Morocco to remain level and reach half-time with the score still 0-0.
Morocco offered occasional threats through Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Díaz, but they struggled to test the French goalkeeper consistently.
Mbappé Breaks Morocco’s Resistance
France continued pressing after the restart and finally found the breakthrough in the 60th minute.
Désiré Doué created the opening for Mbappé, who finished to give France a deserved 1-0 lead.
The goal transformed the contest. Morocco were forced to push further forward, leaving more space for France’s attackers to exploit.
Dembélé Doubles the Lead
France struck again only six minutes later.
This time Mbappé turned provider, setting up Dembélé to extend the lead to 2-0.
The quick double left Morocco with a difficult task, and Mohamed Ouahbi responded by introducing Soufiane Rahimi and Sofyan Amrabat as he searched for a route back into the match.
Morocco created a few late opportunities through Azzedine Ounahi, Neil El Aynaoui and Gessime Yassine, but France managed the closing stages comfortably.
Match Statistics
France’s attacking dominance was reflected in the final numbers.
- Shots: France 22-5 Morocco
- Shots on target: France 9-1 Morocco
- Possession: France 48%-52% Morocco
- Passes: France 476-498 Morocco
- Pass accuracy: France 92%-88% Morocco
- Fouls: France 10-12 Morocco
- Corners: France 5-5 Morocco
- Yellow cards: France 0-1 Morocco
Morocco saw slightly more of the ball, but France created far more dangerous opportunities and registered nine shots on target compared to Morocco’s one.
Mbappé Recovers From Penalty Miss
Mbappé’s response after missing the first-half penalty proved crucial.
Rather than allowing the missed opportunity to affect his performance, the France forward remained involved, scored the opening goal and then created the second for Dembélé.
His contribution ultimately separated the teams during the decisive spell of the quarter-final.
Morocco’s World Cup Run Ends
Morocco leave the competition after another strong campaign.
The Atlas Lions reached the quarter-finals after defeating Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16, but France’s attacking quality proved too much in Foxborough.
Morocco remained competitive for long periods and even edged possession, but their lack of clear chances prevented them from mounting a comeback after falling behind.
What the Result Means
France advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after recording another clean sheet in the knockout stage.
Les Bleus have now eliminated Paraguay and Morocco without conceding, while Mbappé continues to deliver decisive contributions in the tournament’s biggest matches.
France vs Morocco Preview: Can the Atlas Lions Shock Another Giant in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Finals?
France and Morocco renew one of international football’s most compelling rivalries as they battle for a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on Thursday at Boston Stadium in Foxborough.
France arrive as favourites after edging Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16, while Morocco continue to capture the imagination after a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada. With a semi-final place at stake, another unforgettable encounter could be on the cards.
Road to the Quarter-Finals
France were forced to work hard against Paraguay before Kylian Mbappé converted a second-half penalty to secure a narrow 1-0 victory. Didier Deschamps’ side dominated possession, controlled the tempo and limited Paraguay to very few chances.
Morocco, meanwhile, delivered one of the standout performances of the Round of 16. After a goalless first half against Canada, the Atlas Lions exploded after the break with Azzedine Ounahi scoring twice before Soufiane Rahimi wrapped up an emphatic 3-0 victory.
France Looking for Another Deep Run
France possess one of the tournament’s strongest squads.
With Kylian Mbappé leading the attack alongside Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola, Michael Olise and Désiré Doué, Les Bleus have attacking quality capable of deciding matches in an instant.
Their midfield continues to dominate possession, while the defence has looked increasingly solid as the knockout stage progresses.
Morocco Dreaming Again
Morocco have once again become one of the tournament’s biggest stories.
The Atlas Lions combine defensive organisation with quick transitions and clinical finishing. Against Canada, they managed only five shots but scored three goals, highlighting their remarkable efficiency.
Players such as Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi and Soufiane Rahimi have all played key roles during Morocco’s impressive campaign.
After their historic run at the 2022 World Cup, Morocco now have another opportunity to reach the final four on football’s biggest stage.
Key Battle
Kylian Mbappé vs Achraf Hakimi
Few players know each other better than Paris Saint-Germain teammates Kylian Mbappé and Achraf Hakimi.
Mbappé’s explosive pace and direct running will test Morocco’s defence throughout the evening, while Hakimi’s attacking instincts could force the French captain to contribute defensively.
Their duel on France’s left and Morocco’s right could define the match.
Players to Watch
France
- Kylian Mbappé
- Ousmane Dembélé
- Michael Olise
- Adrien Rabiot
Morocco
- Azzedine Ounahi
- Brahim Diaz
- Achraf Hakimi
- Soufiane Rahimi
Match Prediction
France enter as deserved favourites after controlling virtually every aspect of their victory over Paraguay.
Morocco, however, have already shown they thrive as underdogs and possess enough quality to punish any lapse in concentration.
The pre-match win probabilities reflect France’s advantage:
- France win: 62%
- Extra time: 23%
- Morocco win: 15%
If Morocco remain compact and clinical, another upset cannot be ruled out. France, though, have the greater squad depth and experience in major knockout matches.
Prediction: France 2-1 Morocco
