France became the first team to qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeating Morocco 2-0 in the tournament’s opening quarter-final at Boston Stadium.
After a goalless first half, France broke the deadlock in the second half with two quick goals. Captain Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 60th minute, while Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead six minutes later to seal a comfortable victory.
France dominated possession and created several chances throughout the match. Mbappé was awarded a penalty in the first half after being brought down inside the box, but Morocco goalkeeper made an excellent save to deny the French captain.
The second half saw relentless pressure from France, which finally paid off when Mbappé found the net before Dembélé added a superb second goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Morocco pushed for a comeback late in the game and came close from a free kick in the 82nd minute, but the French goalkeeper produced a fine save. The African side also missed another late opportunity as France comfortably held on for victory.
The win sends France into the World Cup semi-finals for a third consecutive tournament, underlining their consistency on football’s biggest stage.
Mbappé Creates World Cup History
Mbappé also reached another remarkable milestone during the match. His goal against Morocco took his tally to eight goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making him the first player in history to score eight goals in two different FIFA World Cup editions.
The French superstar had also finished with eight goals at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, further cementing his place among the greatest World Cup performers of all time.