France Beats Morocco 2-0, Reaches Third Straight WC Semifinal
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- France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the first 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal at Foxborough, Massachusetts, to reach a third straight World Cup semifinal under manager Didier Deschamps.
- Kylian Mbappé scored one of France's two goals despite having an early first-half penalty saved.
- Ousmane Dembélé also scored for France as the defending-runners-up advanced past Morocco.
- The quarterfinal was a rematch of France and Morocco's 2022 World Cup semifinal, which France also won en route to the 2022 final.
- France's semifinal berth marks their third consecutive trip to the World Cup's final four under Deschamps, extending one of the longest such streaks in the modern era.
- The Morocco match was the first of four quarterfinals, with Spain vs. Belgium, England vs. Norway, and Switzerland vs. Argentina still to follow in the bracket.
Why it matters: France's third straight World Cup semifinal appearance cements Deschamps' side as the tournament's standard-bearer, and Mbappé's ability to score even after a saved early penalty reinforces their resilience heading into the final four. For Morocco, the loss ends a deep run that included dispatching several favored opponents.
