FIFA France vs Morocco
France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Quarterfinals in Boston. Kylian Mbappé scored and assisted, and Ousmane Dembélé added the second goal. France advanced to their third consecutive World Cup semi-final, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.
France controlled the quarter-final matchup, outshooting Morocco 22 to 5 in front of 63,811 spectators at the Boston Stadium. Despite an early first-half penalty save by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, France broke the deadlock on the hour mark when Mbappé curled in a shot. Dembélé doubled the lead just six minutes later. Mbappé was substituted late in the game with an apparent ankle injury but later joined the team's celebrations.
A rematch of the 2022 World Cup semifinal: France, the 2018 champion and 2022 runner-up, against Morocco, the Cinderella from four years ago, and the first Arab and African nation to reach a semifinal. But Morocco could do no better than the quarterfinals this year — losing to France 2-0.
It did not take long for France to go on the attack. In the fourth minute, striker Kylian Mbappé just missed putting Les Bleus up early with a shot that zipped by the left post. France dominated much of the first half, preventing Morocco from even taking a shot until stoppage time at the end.The best first-half opportunity for France came in the 25th minute. Mbappé was tackled near the Morocco goal and won a penalty kick.The resulting video review took three minutes, frustrating Mbappé, who wanted to take the kick much sooner. When he eventually shot the penalty, Morocco's keeper Yassine Bounou dove, low and to the right, easily saving the weak effort by Mbappé.The French defense stymied Morocco, preventing their offense from getting into a rhythm on a hot, sunny day (it was 89 degrees at kickoff). But France could do no better. At halftime, it was 0-0. The capacity crowd of just over 64,000 at Gillette Stadium wanted more.
Morocco's ascent to becoming a respected contender at the World Cup is not coincidental. The government has made it a point to invest heavily in the Moroccan national team, even building a state-of-the-art facility and academy, 15 years ago, that experts say rivals France's soccer training site.
"The king of that country made a decision," said Zayn Nabbi, host of the podcast On The Whistle, about African soccer. "They were gonna invest in football, and they were gonna use it as soft power. A host of stars are turning down the opportunity to play for European nations to play for Morocco."
Consider 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who was born in France to Moroccan parents, and was courted by the French national team, but ultimately chose Morocco. "Bouaddi is a symbol of a generational shift in which playing for national teams in Europe is no longer treated as the highest form of recognition," wrote journalists Aomar Boum and Brahim El Guabli in the blog Africa is a Country.
But they were no match for French soccer, which attacked relentlessly in the second half: in the 60th minute came the first French goal. A sensational shot by Mbappé beyond the long stretch of Bounou. It was Mbappé's eighth goal of this tournament, a record 12th in the knockout round, and his 20th goal in the World Cup.
Shortly thereafter, Moroccan player Issa Diop received a yellow card for tackling Mbappé, the first and only card of the game.
The French scoring continued six minutes later. Mbappé flicked a pass to Ousmane Dembélé, who darted through the Moroccan defense and made it 2-0. Mbappé was subbed out in the 77th minute with a slight limp (he sat on the bench with an ice pack on his right ankle).
Morocco did not give up the fight, creating several scoring opportunities late. But they could not find a way to get the ball into the net.
France now moves on to the semifinal next Tuesday against either Spain or Belgium, which are playing their quarterfinal match tomorrow in Inglewood, Calif.
Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scored the two goals in the second half as a subdued Morocco barely put up a challenge against the two-time champion. Mbappe had missed a penalty in the first half and seemed to nurse an inury toward the end of the game.
France booked their place in a third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final with a clinical 2-0 victory over Morocco in Boston, ending the Atlas Lions’ impressive campaign and moving two wins away from another world title.
The quarter-final began under the scorching afternoon sun, with France immediately asserting their dominance. Just five minutes into the contest, Les Bleus came close to taking the lead when a short corner routine found Dayot Upamecano unmarked at the back post, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced an excellent save to deny the defender.
France continued to press and were handed a golden opportunity in the 26th minute. Kylian Mbappe burst forward on the counterattack, beating Noussair Mazraoui with a trademark stepover before being brought down inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with no option but to point to the spot.
However, the French captain failed to capitalise. After a delay of more than three minutes before taking the kick, Mbappe’s tame penalty was brilliantly saved by Bounou, who dived to his right to keep the scores level. The save further enhanced the Moroccan goalkeeper’s reputation, making him the first goalkeeper to save four penalties in FIFA World Cup history.
Following the hydration break in the 29th minute, Morocco gained confidence while Bounou continued his outstanding performance. He produced another fine stop to deny Désiré Doué after Ayyoub Bouaddi lost possession in his own half.
France almost found the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time when Lucas Digne unleashed a spectacular effort from distance, only to see his strike cannon off the crossbar.
Despite dominating possession and creating the better chances, France entered the break frustrated as the score remained 0-0. Mbappe’s missed penalty and Bounou’s heroics were the defining moments of the opening 45 minutes, while Morocco failed to register a single shot on target.
Morocco started the second half with greater intent, matching their entire first-half tally of shots and touches inside the French penalty area within the opening three minutes. Nevertheless, France gradually regained control through the creativity of Michael Olise.
In the 57th minute, Olise produced a moment of brilliance, turning away from his marker before slipping Mbappe through on goal, but the French skipper blazed his effort over the bar.
Mbappe would not be denied for long.
Just after the hour mark, the forward collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area, shifted onto his right foot and curled a superb finish into the far corner. It was a moment of individual brilliance and his 20th FIFA World Cup goal, redeeming himself after the earlier penalty miss.
Only six minutes later, France delivered the knockout blow.
Ousmane Dembele exploited the space created by Mbappe’s movement before firing a precise low finish into the bottom corner to double France’s advantage and leave Morocco with a mountain to climb.
Morocco struggled to respond and, heading into the final ten minutes, had still failed to register a shot on target. The absence of injured forward Ismaël Saibari, who had scored three goals during the tournament, was evident as the Atlas Lions lacked their usual attacking threat.
France comfortably managed the closing stages to secure a 2-0 victory, eliminating Morocco from the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament and advancing to yet another semi-final.
Les Bleus are now just two victories away from lifting the FIFA World Cup trophy once again, while Morocco bow out after another memorable campaign that further underlined their emergence as one of world football’s rising powers.
France brushed Morocco aside with another hugely impressive World Cup performance — but there was concern for Kylian Mbappe after he was forced off late on.
Mbappe bounced back from having an early penalty saved to curl France into the lead with a fine finish. It was his eighth goal of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Mbappe then turned provider for France’s second, setting up Ousmane Dembele to finish low into the bottom corner.
France’s spot in the semi-finals is secured and tomorrow we will find out who they will face in Dallas on Tuesday.
Spain and Belgium face off in Los Angeles for that honour, with kick-off at 3pm ET in the second quarter-final of this World Cup. Will Spain finally concede a goal? With the United States’ victors defy the odds once again? We find out tomorrow!
Then on Saturday we have a double-header to decide the second semi-final line-up:
- Norway vs England (Miami) — 5pm ET
- Argentina vs Switzerland (Kansas City) — 9pm ET
In short, we have an incredible 48 hours of World Cup football on the way — and we will be here with you for every kick and whistle.
That is it! Boston’s World Cup adventure ends here. I’m sure we will find out over the coming days, weeks and months whether it was worth it for the region.
As for the football, there were seven games played at Gillette Stadium — or Boston Stadium as it will never be called again — with 16 goals scored, although 10 of those came in just two games: France’s 4-1 win over Norway and Norway’s 4-1 win over Iraq, both in the group stage.Scotland, Morocco, Norway and France all played here twice. Needless to say, France were the only team to finish in Foxborough with a perfect record.And finally, I’m not entirely sure why but this image feels like it belongs in a gallery. I won’t say the Louvre.Maybe it’s just the facial expressions and Kylian Mbappe’s role in it all, but this is a moment in time that screams aura — much like the football this team plays.Most of the time, the French fans sounded like they were being drowned out by vociferous Morocco supporters inside Gillette Stadium. It didn’t look like that though, clearly.
Four years ago, France ended Morocco's extraordinary World Cup run in Qatar, knocking out the first African and Arab nation ever to reach a World Cup semi-final.On Thursday in Boston they meet again, but this time Morocco aren't returning as football's dreamers.
They're returning believing they belong."This is a revenge match for the Moroccan national team," says Moroccan sports journalist Hamza Chtioui.
"Especially for the players who were part of that 2022 squad. They felt that loss deeply, and now they're looking to settle the score - for themselves and for the team."
Morocco have looked every bit the solid contenders throughout this tournament, standing up to some of world football's heavyweights with confidence, discipline and belief. They held Brazil before beating Scotland, the Netherlands and Canada to set up another meeting with France."There's deep faith in this team," says Chtioui."There are flights full of supporters coming from Morocco to the United States. Moroccans from around the world have travelled to follow the team. I dare say Morocco will have the stronger support."France, however, remain perhaps the tournament's most complete side.With Kylian Mbappe leading one of the world's most talented squads, Les Bleus have reached the quarter-finals playing some of the tournament's most fluid football.
"Individually they're stronger," Chtioui admits."But Morocco's midfield is about equal. If they can press France early, like they did against Brazil, they can create problems. The 11 players just need to perform as one."But Morocco believe their strength extends beyond tactics.
Posted on 2026/07/10 09:11 AM