​The French national team, with Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano in the lineup, advanced to the World Cup’s final four by defeating Morocco 2-0 in Boston, United States, during the quarter-finals on Thursday evening. After a goalless first half, France broke the deadlock at the hour mark when Kylian Mbappé found the net, a goal he had initially attempted via a penalty that had sailed wide earlier in the first period. Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added a second and made the result seem even more decisive, as the French side continued to dominate the proceedings. France had a commanding 22 attempts on goal compared with Morocco’s five, underscoring their pressure and control throughout the match.
Both Olise and Upamecano were entrusted with full 90-minute shifts for Didier Deschamps’ squad, demonstrating their importance and stamina in this crucial victory. On the Moroccan side, Bayern Munich’s new signing Ismaël Saïbari did not feature in the matchday squad, leaving him on the bench as his team faced a tall order against a relentless French attack.
In the wake of their triumph, Upamecano highlighted the strong sense of unity that characterizes the French camp. “We all get on well off the pitch. Everyone wants to go as far as possible, and you can see that. Whether it’s in training or in small-sided games, everyone wants to win, which is important. We have to sustain this team spirit,” the FC Bayern defender emphasized.
With this win, Les Bleus now turn their attention to the next hurdle: a spot in the final awaits them, as they prepare to face the winner of Friday’s encounter between Spain and Belgium. The semi-final clash is scheduled for next Tuesday at 21:00 CEST in Dallas, USA, setting up a tantalizing matchup as France bid to continue their strong recent form on the World Cup stage.
For fans and followers of FC Bayern and its players at the World Cup 2026, this tournament run provides a prime example of how the club’s talents are contributing to their nations’ deep runs on football’s biggest stage. Olise’s presence on the flank and Upamecano’s leadership at the back were instrumental in securing this quarter-final success, reinforcing the impression that the squad’s depth and versatility can translate into meaningful results in late-stage World Cup scenarios. As the competition progresses, attention will also be on how France leverages this momentum, balances their squad depth, and maintains the rigorous pace required to navigate the demands of the knockout rounds and reach the final.