France end Morocco's dream once more as Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé lead Les Bleus into the World Cup semi-finals

France edged past Morocco and will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. (Image credits – CommonsWikipedia, License Details) 

France advanced to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semi-finals with a comfortable 2-0 win over Morocco, ending the Atlas Lions' impressive run and proving too strong for the African giants once more on the biggest stage.

Mbappe and Dembele scored two quick goals in a 6-minute blip from Morocco in the second half to cement France's dominance in a tense quarter-final game at Boston Stadium.

Four years ago, France defeated Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Atlas Lions sought sweet revenge against the French, as they could have taken a significant step towards becoming the first African nation to win the World Cup.

However, Didier Deschamps' side thwarted the Moroccans' party plans, as the French demonstrated superior quality and composure once more, cementing their place as one of the clear favourites to win the World Cup.

Morocco's top scorer, Ismael Saibari, was ruled out of the game due to a hamstring injury. The Atlas Lions missed him dearly. However, Mohamed Ouhabi's team demonstrated that they have no fear of anyone, including the world's strongest teams.

The first 45 minutes were cagey and closely contested between the two giants. Les Bleus dominated possession for the majority of the game, while Morocco failed to create any threatening moves to test Mike Maignan in goal.

Morocco appeared dangerous in transitions, with chances coming from both ends, and they were rock-solid in the first half. Les Bleus made the breakthrough when Kylian Mbappé's long-range shot found the back of the net in the 60th minute.

Just 6 minutes later, Ousmane Dembele finished off a fantastic pass from Mbappe by slotting it past Bounou. The quickfire double-goal thriller stunned the Moroccans and put the French in the driving seat of the game.

Despite the setback, Morocco continued to compete with the top-ranked team in the game. The quickfire double actually worked wonderfully. Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba were both exceptional for France, as Morocco could generate an xG of just 0.15.

Morocco's tournament also deserves a lot of praise, as despite conceding so many injuries, they lost their star man Ismael Saibari. Pressured victories over the Netherlands and Canada. For France, the focus will shift to the semi-finals.

Mbappé has elevated the World Cup to a new level, and Dembélé has rediscovered his Ballon d'Or form. While the Atlas Lions were unable to repeat their World Cup campaign, Morocco were visually appealing this time around, thanks to a younger and more talented core.

This victory also demonstrated France's consistency on the big stage. Didier Deschamp's side has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a row. France is still alive and kicking, only one win away from another World Cup final.

Didier Deschamps' team hasn't played the most beautiful football, but international football is largely decided by footage, not pundit opinions.

France remains determined to win the ultimate prize once more. Kylian Mbappé is currently leading the Golden Boot race, while Ousmane Dembélé is gradually rediscovering his former self during the Argentine Games. Deschamps' team is gaining momentum.

The Atlas Lions have been one of the best teams in this World Cup, but they were eliminated by a team that is a clear favourite to win the tournament. Les Bleus will take on the winner of the game between Spain and Belgium.