France Advances to World Cup Semifinals with 2-0 Victory Over Morocco
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored at Boston Stadium, securing France's place in the final four and setting up a clash with the Spain-Belgium winner.
The story
France has become the first team to secure a spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals, defeating Morocco 2-0 in a hard-fought quarterfinal match played at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The reigning champions broke the deadlock around the hour mark when Kylian Mbappé netted his 20th career World Cup goal with a curling shot from inside the box.
Ousmane Dembélé added the second goal, with both strikes coming in quick succession to seal the victory. Morocco, who made history four years ago as the first African side to reach a World Cup semifinal, put up a spirited fight but ultimately could not breach the French defense. France's dominant performance reinforces their status as tournament favorites as they eye another final appearance.
Yesterday's results
| Match | Score | Key |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Morocco | 2-0 | Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored to send France to the semifinals. |
Where it stands
France has claimed the first spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals after their 2-0 victory over Morocco on July 9th. They now await the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Spain and Belgium.
The remaining quarterfinal matches will continue to shape the knockout bracket, with highly anticipated fixtures scheduled for the coming days. These upcoming games will determine who joins France in the battle for the final spots.
Off the pitch
| Player | From | To | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morten Hjulmand | Sporting CP | Atlético Madrid | €40m |
| Anan Khalaili | Union Saint-Gilloise | Inter Milan | €25m |
What we'll be watching
- Spain vs Belgium (Quarterfinals) - July 10, Los Angeles Stadium, USA
- Norway vs England (Quarterfinals) - July 11, Miami Stadium, USA
- Argentina vs Switzerland (Quarterfinals) - July 12, Kansas City Stadium, USA
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.