​Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele found the back of the net as France cruised past Morocco 2-0 to secure a spot in the World Cup semi-finals at the Gillette Stadium near Boston. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a curling left-footed strike from just outside the box, marking his eighth goal of the tournament. Six minutes later, Dembele sealed the victory with a neat finish from close range, giving Les Bleus a comfortable lead and a clinical win to take into the next round.
The result propels France, the reigning World Cup champions from 2018, into a potential last-four clash against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas, scheduled for Tuesday. Morocco, who topped African football and were anticipated to pose a significant challenge, were unable to break down a disciplined French defense and failed to register a single shot on target until an 83rd-minute free-kick from Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France controlled much of the match, though they were briefly unsettled when Mbappe’s early penalty was saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, keeping the score level at 0-0. The spot kick was awarded after Mbappe was fouled by Noussair Mazraoui, but the delay to take the kick following a lengthy VAR review allowed Morocco to regroup. Despite that setback, Didier Deschamps’ side maintained pressure and eventually broke through as Mbappe struck with precision at the hour mark, bending his shot from the edge of the area past Bounou to make it 1-0.
The second goal arrived in the 66th minute when Dembele, Paris Saint-Germain’s winger, surged forward from midfield and slid a low shot into the far corner, securing a decisive cushion for France. With the result effectively sealed, the French were able to manage the game to the final whistle, maintaining their grip on possession and tempo as Morocco pressed to find a way back into contention.
Looking ahead, France now turn their attention to the World Cup semi-final, awaiting the winner of Friday’s quarter-final clash in Los Angeles between Spain and Belgium. A potential showdown with Spain, the current European champions, or a meeting with Belgium awaits Didier Deschamps’ side in the Texas-based clash, as France chase a place in back-to-back World Cup finals. The victory also reaffirmed Mbappe’s status as one of the tournament’s standout performers, adding another chapter to his prolific World Cup record as France advance with confidence.