France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-final clash. The victory extends France's remarkable record of reaching the World Cup semi-finals for the third consecutive tournament, following their appearances in 2018 and 2022.

Morocco's impressive campaign came to an end despite a determined defensive performance against one of the tournament favourites.

Mbappé and Dembélé Find the Net

France dominated possession from the opening whistle and kept sustained pressure on Morocco's defence.

Captain Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a superb curling strike to give France a deserved 1-0 lead. The goal marked his eighth of the tournament.

Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled France's advantage after finishing a well-worked move created by Mbappé, putting the result beyond Morocco's reach.

Bounou Keeps Morocco in the Game Early On

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou delivered an outstanding performance despite the defeat.

He made an excellent save in the fifth minute to deny Dayot Upamecano's powerful header and later produced another crucial stop by saving a Mbappé penalty in the first half after the French captain was brought down inside the penalty area by Noussair Mazraoui.

Thanks to Bounou's heroics and Morocco's disciplined defending, the first half ended goalless.

France Dominate the Second Half

France returned after the break with greater attacking intensity and finally broke the deadlock through Mbappé's individual brilliance.

The defending finalists controlled possession after taking the lead and prevented Morocco from creating meaningful scoring opportunities. Dembélé's second goal effectively sealed the contest as France comfortably saw out the remaining minutes.

Semi-Final Awaits France

With the victory, France advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals, continuing their consistent success on football's biggest stage.

The 2018 world champions and 2022 finalists will now play their semi-final match on July 15, aiming to move one step closer to another World Cup title.

Morocco exit the tournament after another memorable World Cup campaign that showcased the nation's growing strength in international football.