France vs Morocco Highlights: 2026 World Cup Quarterfinal
France advanced to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinals with a commanding 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco. The high-stakes match took place on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at Boston Stadium in Foxborough. Second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé sealed the win for Les Bleus, ending Morocco’s historic knockout run.
Match Highlights & Key Moments
- First-Half Penalty Drama: France took early control and earned a golden opportunity when Noussair Mazraoui fouled Kylian Mbappé inside the penalty area. Mbappé stepped up to take the penalty, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou guessed correctly and made a spectacular diving save, keeping the score level at 0-0 going into halftime.
- Mbappé’s Redemption (60'): On the hour mark, Mbappé made amends for his earlier miss. Receiving a pass from Désiré Doué, he found a pocket of space inside a crowded box and curled a magnificent strike into the far top corner to break the deadlock. The goal marked his 8th of the tournament and 20th career World Cup goal.
- Dembélé Doubles the Lead (66'): Just six minutes later, France struck again. Mbappé turned playmaker, slicing open the Moroccan defense to slip a pass to Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé drove forward and fired a low, composed finish past Bounou into the bottom corner.
- Defensive Lockout: France safely managed the final half-hour of the game, keeping a clean sheet. Despite Morocco having slightly more overall possession, they struggled to pierce the French backline, generating an Expected Goals (xG) rating of just 0.14 compared to France’s dominant 3.69 xG.
Post-Match Impact
With this victory, Didier Deschamps' French squad has booked their spot in a third consecutive World Cup semifinal. Mbappé’s goal also pushed him to the top of the 2026 Golden Boot race, tying him with Argentina's Lionel Messi. Morocco exits the competition with their heads held high after another memorable tournament run where they defeated teams like the Netherlands.
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