Overview
- France defeated Morocco 2-0 in Boston on Thursday to become the first team to reach the 2026 World Cup semifinals.
- Kylian Mbappé had a first-half penalty saved by Morocco keeper Yassine Bono but scored in the second half to move to eight goals in this tournament and 20 career World Cup goals.
- Ousmane Dembélé added the second goal after a move that began with Mbappé, sealing the victory as France imposed sustained attacking pressure.
- A VAR-reviewed penalty awarded by referee Facundo Tello and a two-minute delay before the kick shaped the match narrative and drew controversy online.
- Morocco's unbeaten run ended under coach Mohamed Ouahbi, whose promotion from the U20 side capped a rapid rise for the national project, and France now awaits the Spain‑Belgium winner for a semifinal in Dallas on Tuesday, July 14.