France secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a clinical 2–0 victory over Morocco at Boston Stadium on Thursday, July 9. Kylian Mbappé was the central figure, rebounding from a first-half penalty miss to score and assist, propelling Les Bleus into their third consecutive World Cup semi-final.
The match began with tactical control from Didier Deschamps’ side, who pinned the Atlas Lions back early on. France’s pressure forced an error from Morocco’s defense in the first half, resulting in a penalty. While Kylian Mbappé uncharacteristically missed from the spot, his determination did not waver.
In the 60th minute, Mbappé finally broke the deadlock, finding the back of the net to move to the top of the Golden Boot race. Just six minutes later, he turned provider, threading a precise pass to Ousmane Dembélé, who calmly slotted the ball home to double France’s lead.
Morocco fought valiantly to find a way back into the game, but the French defensive unit remained resolute, neutralizing the threat posed by the Moroccan attack. This victory marks a significant milestone for France as they continue their quest for back-to-back major tournament success.
