BOSTON — France advanced to the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Morocco on Thursday, as second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele ended the North African side's tournament run and kept Les Bleus on course for a third consecutive appearance in the last four.
Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with a curling finish after earlier seeing a first-half penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Dembele doubled France's lead six minutes later, finishing a swift attacking move that put Didier Deschamps' side firmly in control.
The victory sends France into a semifinal against Spain, while England and Argentina will contest the other last-four match following the completion of the quarterfinals.
Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022, again produced a disciplined defensive performance but struggled to convert limited opportunities against a French side that controlled much of the second half. Bounou's penalty save kept the match level before Mbappe's breakthrough shifted the momentum decisively in France's favor.
The result marked another successful knockout performance for France, which had reached the quarterfinals after victories over Paraguay in the round of 16 and Sweden in the previous knockout stage, following an unbeaten group campaign.
Mbappe's goal was his eighth of the tournament, leaving him among the leading scorers in the race for the Golden Boot. He was substituted late in the match after appearing to receive treatment on his right ankle, though France maintained its two-goal advantage through the closing stages.
After the match, Deschamps praised Mbappe's response following the missed penalty, saying the captain again demonstrated his ability to influence major matches and help guide France through another knockout test.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said his team would learn from the defeat and continue building toward future international competitions, including the 2030 World Cup, which Morocco is set to co-host.
France will face Spain in the semifinals on July 14, with a place in the World Cup final at stake, while Morocco exits the tournament after another deep run that reinforced its status among the leading teams in African football.
