Les Bleus Dominate Morocco to Reach Semifinals
France delivered a commanding performance on Thursday, defeating Morocco 2-0 in the first World Cup quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kylian Mbappé, the tournament’s joint leading scorer, netted his eighth goal of the 2026 World Cup and added an assist to guide the defending champions into the semifinals for the third consecutive tournament.
After missing a penalty in the first half, Mbappé responded in typical fashion — placing a perfectly struck shot inside the far post in the 60th minute to break the deadlock. Just six minutes later, he turned provider, slipping a clever pass to Ousmane Dembélé who fired home France’s second. The goal was Dembélé’s fifth of the tournament, underlining the depth of quality in Didier Deschamps’ squad.
“He’s our captain and he has an incredible mentality,” Dembélé said of Mbappé after the match. “We’re expecting even more goals from him.”
France held a commanding 21-4 advantage in shots and 8-1 in shots on target, controlling proceedings throughout. Mbappé was substituted late with an ice pack on his right ankle but downplayed concerns afterward, insisting he was fine. Les Bleus now await the winner of the Spain-Belgium quarterfinal, with a semifinal berth in Dallas on Tuesday.
Spain vs Belgium: Live From SoFi Stadium
All eyes turn to Los Angeles on Friday evening as Spain face Belgium in what promises to be a tactical masterclass at SoFi Stadium. Spain enter the match as the tournament’s most complete side — unbeaten and yet to concede a single goal across their four games. Led by the electrifying 18-year-old Lamine Yamal and built around the solid midfield foundation that won Euro 2024, La Roja have been nothing short of dominant.
Belgium, meanwhile, arrive with momentum after a gritty campaign. The Red Devils dismantled the USMNT 4-1 in the Round of 16 and boast a golden generation that knows this may be their last realistic shot at World Cup glory. Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku have been instrumental, with the latter finding form at precisely the right time.
Quarterfinal Bracket Takes Shape
The remaining quarterfinal matchups are equally tantalizing. On Saturday, Norway take on England at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami in a battle that pits Erling Haaland’s prolific goalscoring against England’s tournament experience. Later that night, Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City as Lionel Messi’s quest for a second World Cup title continues. Argentina edged past a stubborn Mexican side in the Round of 16, while Switzerland stunned Brazil 2-1 to book their place in the last eight.
The 2026 World Cup — hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — has already delivered unforgettable drama, from Morocco’s group-stage heroics to Cristiano Ronaldo’s emotional farewell as Portugal fell to Spain in the Round of 16. With the semifinals on the horizon, the tournament is reaching its crescendo.
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