​In Foxborough, the scene repeated itself once more, as Daft Punk’s 2001 anthem blared from the Boston stadium speakers with every Morocco goal-bound strike. But this time the tune accompanied a different outcome: France edged Morocco 2-0 to advance to the World Cup semifinals on Thursday, sealing a 2-0 victory that sent the French into the next round. This result kept France’s run of World Cup success alive, marking their third straight semifinal appearance in a tournament that has already seen them reach the final in 2022 and claim the title in 2018. Les Bleus will wait in Los Angeles on Friday at 3 p.m. for the winner of the Spain-Belgium clash.
It was Kylian Mbappé who delivered the decisive moment for the second consecutive knockout round, bending a shot around a sprawling defense and beyond the outstretched reach of the diving Morocco goalkeeper in the 60th minute. The French captain’s record-tying strike gave him his eighth goal of the tournament, placing him on par with Lionel Messi for the Golden Boot lead. Just seven minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added a second goal, squeezing the ball home amid a tangle of defenders just outside the penalty area to double the cushion for France.
The loss snapped Morocco’s remarkable 35-game unbeaten streak that dated back to August 2025, a stretch highlighted by their spirited run through the knockout rounds. The Panthers had looked poised to make another deep run, but France’s defense and Mbappé’s precision proved decisive on Thursday.
Morocco had a bright moment of resistance early in the match when France was thwarted by Yassine Bounou, the Atlas Lions’ keeper. Mbappé earned a penalty in the 28th minute when Noussair Mazraoui committed a foul inside the box, and the Moroccan keeper answeringly denied the French attacker by diving to his left to stop the spot kick. Mbappé would have another chance just before halftime, but Bounou stood tall again, parrying his attempt as the French captain maneuvered through multiple defenders.
This narrative was originally reported with a nod to coverage from The Patriot Ledger, adding context to what lies ahead for France after their quarterfinal win over Morocco. The upcoming Thursday afternoon showcase in Los Angeles will feature either Spain or Belgium as France’s opponent in the semifinals, a stage that promises another chapter in what has already been a storied World Cup campaign for Les Bleus.