France Defeats Morocco 2-0 to Reach 2026 World Cup Semi-Finals

On July 9, 2026, the French national football team secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup by defeating Morocco 2-0 in the quarter-final match held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston. This victory marks France's third consecutive World Cup semi-final appearance, a feat previously achieved only by Brazil and Germany.

Kylian Mbappé played a pivotal role for France despite an early missed penalty and sustaining an ankle injury during the match. He redeemed himself by scoring a stunning curled goal to open the scoring for Les Bleus. Ousmane Dembélé added the second goal, effectively sealing the win over Morocco. Mbappé later reassured fans that his injury was not serious.

The French lineup against Morocco had undergone notable changes compared to the 2022 World Cup semi-final. Only three players from that starting eleven—Mbappé, Dembélé, and Jules Koundé—featured in the squad. Vital midfielder Aurélien Tchouameni was sidelined due to a thigh injury, with Manu Koné stepping in to fill the midfield role alongside Adrien Rabiot. Coach Didier Deschamps maintained much of the starting lineup that played against Paraguay in the Round of 16, including goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defenders Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, and Digne.

France will face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium quarter-final clash in the semi-finals scheduled for July 14 in Dallas. This match also served as a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final where France had previously beaten Morocco, highlighting the sustained rivalry between the two teams at the highest level of international football.