France Reach World Cup Semi-finals With 2-0 Win Over Morocco
Sports Updated: 10 July 2026 08:13 EAT
Photo Courtesy: French striker Kylian Mbappe scores against Morocco
France secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-0 in their quarter-final clash, maintaining their pursuit of a third world title. Didier Deschamps' side controlled much of the contest with a composed display at both ends of the pitch, extending their impressive record in the tournament's knockout stages.
The first half ended goalless despite France creating the better chances. Morocco defended resolutely and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced important saves to deny the French attack, ensuring the Atlas Lions remained in the contest heading into the break.
France eventually broke the deadlock in the 60th minute through captain Kylian Mbappé, who curled a precise finish into the bottom corner after sustained pressure from Les Bleus. The goal rewarded France's dominance and shifted the momentum firmly in their favour.
Mbappé's strike was his 20th career FIFA World Cup goal, drawing him level with Lionel Messi as the competition's joint all-time leading scorer. It also took his tally to eight goals at the 2026 tournament, strengthening his challenge for the Golden Boot award.
France doubled their advantage six minutes later when Ousmane Dembélé capitalised on defensive hesitation inside the Moroccan penalty area to score with a low finish, leaving Morocco with a difficult task of mounting a comeback.
The French midfield controlled possession for long periods, limiting Morocco's opportunities to launch counter-attacks while consistently creating openings through quick passing and movement in the final third.
Defensively, France remained compact throughout the match and successfully contained Morocco's attacking threats, recording another clean sheet in the knockout rounds and reinforcing their reputation as one of the tournament's strongest defensive teams.
For Mbappé, the victory also marked his 20th FIFA World Cup appearance for France, equalling Hugo Lloris' national record for the most World Cup matches played by a French international.
Morocco entered the match hoping to become the first African nation to reach two World Cup semi-finals, but injuries and the absence of key attacking options reduced their effectiveness against the experienced French side.
Despite the defeat, Morocco concluded another impressive World Cup campaign after advancing from a competitive group and eliminating higher-ranked opposition in the Round of 16 to reach the last eight.
France's victory extended their remarkable consistency on the global stage, with Les Bleus reaching the semi-finals for the third consecutive FIFA World Cup after their appearances in 2018, 2022 and now 2026.
Head coach Didier Deschamps praised his players for their discipline, patience and tactical execution, saying the team managed the game effectively after taking the lead and never allowed Morocco back into the contest.
France will now prepare for a semi-final meeting with the winner of the Spain versus Belgium quarter-final as they continue their quest to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy for the third time in the nation's history.
Tags: 2026 FIFA World Cup. France France National Football Team France National Team Kylian Mbappe Morocco Morocco Fc Morocco National Team Signs Signs Media Signs Media Kenya Limited Signs Tv Signsmedia Signst Signstv Signstvkenya Signsv Sports Article Sports City Sports Commentary Sports Enthusiasm Sports Enthusiasm Sports Journalism World Cup World Cup 2026 World Cup 2026
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FELIX MAKONA
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