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

France advanced to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating Morocco 2-0 at Gillett Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Thursday night. Kylian Mbappé, the captain, scored the first goal in the 60th minute, marking his eighth goal of the tournament.

Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead just six minutes later. Despite Morocco's strong start and efforts to frustrate the French attack, they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities.

The match featured a controversial moment when Mbappé's first-half penalty was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou after a lengthy VAR review. Morocco's coach, Moham Ouahbi, expressed disappointment over the non-review of a potential handball leading to Mbappé's goal.

Despite the loss, Morocco's campaign was praised, marking them as the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals in the expanded 48-team tournament. France will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals, with concerns over a minor ankle issue for Mbappé.