France March On: Quarter-Final Victory Sets Up Semi-Final Clash
Kylian Mbappe overcame a first-half penalty miss to score his eighth goal of the tournament and set up another for Ousmane Dembele as France defeated Morocco 2-0 at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026, securing their place in a third successive World Cup semi-final.
The defending champions were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the first half when Noussair Mazraoui brought down Mbappe in the penalty area. However, Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou produced a fine save to keep the scores level at the break, giving Walid Regragui’s side hope of causing another upset.
Second-Half Brilliance Decides the Contest
France emerged from the interval with renewed intensity, and the breakthrough arrived on the hour mark. Mbappe picked up the ball on the edge of the area and curled a superb finish into the far corner, leaving Bounou with no chance. It was a moment of pure quality that broke Moroccan resistance.
Just six minutes later, the France captain turned provider. Mbappe slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Ousmane Dembele, who fired a composed low drive into the bottom corner from the edge of the D. Bounou got a hand to it but could not keep it out, and the game was effectively settled.
Didier Deschamps’ side comfortably saw out the remainder to book a last-four meeting with either Belgium or Spain. France have now reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive World Cup, following their triumph in Russia 2018 and runners-up finish to Argentina at Qatar 2022.
Mbappe Leads the Golden Boot Race
Kylian Mbappe has now scored in five of France’s six matches en route to the last four and currently leads the race for the adidas Golden Boot. Only Lionel Messi (21) has more World Cup goals than Mbappe’s 20, highlighting the French captain’s remarkable consistency on the biggest stage.
Ousmane Dembele has also been in exceptional form. With five goals in a single World Cup edition, he has become just the third French player to achieve this feat, following Mbappe and the legendary Just Fontaine.
Morocco’s Campaign Ends with Heads Held High
For Morocco, the defeat brought a disappointing end to a tournament that had promised so much. After their historic run to the semi-finals in Qatar 2022, expectations were high. Coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged the challenge his side faced.
“We have to admit we faced a very good opponent. We struggled a lot in the first half, and Bounou’s penalty save kept us in the game. We defended better in the second half but were calmer in possession. In the end, it was an individual piece of brilliance from Mbappe,” Ouahbi said after the match.
“The future will be bright if we continue like this. We know we represent more than just one country. We represent the Moroccan people, and many countries across Asia and Africa. Many people see themselves in this team, and we’ll keep working to win titles in the future.”
What’s Next: Semi-Finals Await
With the quarter-finals now complete, the tournament moves to the semi-final stage. France will face the winner of Spain versus Belgium, while Argentina booked their spot after a dramatic 2-1 victory over England in Atlanta. The World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the New Jersey Stadium in New York.
France’s firepower, defensive solidity, and tournament experience make them strong contenders to lift the trophy once again. With Mbappe in this kind of form, few would bet against Les Bleus going all the way.
Stay tuned to MK Sports for the latest World Cup 2026 coverage, expert analysis, and betting insights as the tournament reaches its thrilling conclusion.