On Thursday, France secured its spot as the first semifinalist in the 2026 World Cup by overcoming Morocco with a 2-0 victory at Boston's Gillette Stadium, echoing their semifinal clash from Qatar 2022.
Under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, the French team delivered a commanding performance, largely due to the efforts of their star forwards. Kylian Mbappé initiated the scoring with a remarkable goal, while Ousmane Dembélé sealed the win with the second strike.
Yet, Mbappé's evening was not without its challenges. He missed a penalty during the match and left the field in the second half due to a physical issue, raising concerns for the upcoming rounds.
Morocco struggled to find their footing against a robust and impenetrable French defense, which effectively shut down the African team's attempts throughout the 90 minutes.
Having reached this stage after a dramatic penalty win over the Netherlands (1-1, 3-2 on penalties) and a 3-0 triumph against Canada, Morocco was unable to replicate their historic achievement from Qatar 2022, where they became the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal.
France, meanwhile, entered this matchup as one of the tournament's most formidable contenders. They dominated their group with an undefeated record, netting 10 goals and conceding just two, and dispatched Paraguay 1-0 in the Round of 16 thanks to an Mbappé penalty in the 70th minute.
With seven goals in the tournament, Mbappé is tied with Messi and Haaland for the Golden Boot lead, maintaining his status as a key player despite fitness concerns.
As for Dembélé, he has four goals to his name, including a stunning hat-trick in 25 minutes against Norway during the group stage.
France now aims for a third consecutive World Cup final, having won in Russia 2018 and fallen to Argentina in the Qatar 2022 final.
The French will face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium match, set for Friday, July 10, at SoFi Stadium. Meanwhile, the remaining quarterfinals, Norway vs. England and Argentina vs. Switzerland, will take place on Saturday, July 11.
Key Insights on France's World Cup Journey
How did France perform in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup?
France dominated their group with a flawless record, scoring 10 goals and conceding only two.
Who were France's key players in their victory over Morocco?
Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé were instrumental, with Mbappé scoring the opening goal and Dembélé securing the win with the second.
What are the concerns regarding Kylian Mbappé's fitness?
Mbappé left the field in the second half due to a physical issue, raising concerns about his availability for future matches.