By Amofokhai Williams
Tournament favorites France booked their spot in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco in front of a roaring crowd of 63,811 at Boston Stadium.
A masterclass second-half showing powered by Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé proved too much for the Atlas Lions, mirroring the scoreline from their historic 2022 encounter in Qatar.
However, the victory was marred by late anxiety as Mbappé was forced off with a concerning injury.
The match kicked off with high tactical intensity, but the biggest flashpoint of the first half arrived in the 25th minute. A clumsy challenge inside the area by Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui prompted referee Facundo Tello to point to the penalty spot. Following a swift VAR verification, the decision stood.
Captain Mbappé stepped up to take charge, but Moroccan shot-stopper Yassine Bounou (Bono) anticipated beautifully, diving to his bottom right to deny the superstar and keep the game scoreless.
France continued to ask questions as the half progressed, with Lucas Digne rattling the crossbar from distance just before the interval, leaving Morocco relieved to head into the tunnel at 0-0.
France emerged from the break with renewed urgency, completely dominating the statistical landscape with 17 shots on target to Morocco’s 2. The relentless pressure finally cracked open the stubborn Moroccan defense in the 60th minute.
In the 60th minute, Mbappé found redemption. Picking up the ball from medium range, the captain unleashed a clinical strike that whistled past Bono and buried itself inside the right post.
In the 66th minute, before Morocco could recalibrate, France struck again. Mbappé turned provider, shifting the ball on the edge of the area to Ousmane Dembélé, whose low drive squeezed into the bottom right corner to double Les Bleus’ advantage.
While French celebrations echo tonight, manager Didier Deschamps faces an anxious wait. In the 77th minute, Mbappé signaled to the bench in clear discomfort and was immediately substituted for Jean-Philippe Mateta. The severity of the injury remains unknown but will dominate headlines leading up to the next round.
Morocco threw everything forward in the final stages, with late efforts from Azzedine Ounahi and Achraf Hakimi testing Mike Maignan, but the French defense stood tall to secure a clean sheet.
With this victory, France moves on to the semi-finals at Dallas Stadium on July 14, where they will face the winner of the upcoming Spain vs. Belgium quarter-final
