France defeated Morocco 2-0 to reach the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in a thrilling encounter on Thursday night. Goals from France captain Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé secured their place in a third successive semifinal.
Mbappé now has eight goals in the tournament after he scored the first goal in the second half, followed by a goal from Dembélé just six minutes later, giving France a 2-0 lead that remained until the end of the game.
France will now compete for a place in the final against the winner of the Belgium versus Spain match to be played in Arlington, Texas, on Tuesday.
African champions Morocco were considered a serious threat going into the quarterfinal, but they suffered under the weight of France’s precision striking and aggressive football.
Didier Deschamps’ men were always in control against a lackadaisical Morocco, who failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free kick by Azzedine Ounahi was comfortably saved by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan.
France created better chances throughout the match, though they struggled to open the scoring in the first half. The French side’s relentless attacking football in the second half ultimately sealed the fate of the game.
Morocco managed to hold out until half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France’s relentless pressure paid off. Paris Saint-Germain star Dembélé made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner.
The Belgium-Spain encounter is what many experts are calling the match of the tournament, as the French are considered one of the best defensive teams while the Spanish side is known for their attacking football mixed with artistic creativity.
Belgium ready to give Spain ‘a run for their money’
Belgium coach Rudi Cargia acknowledged that they may be heading into the FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash against Spain on Friday as the underdogs, but said the Belgian Red Devils will do everything to give La Rojas “a run for their money”.
Garcia acknowledged Spain's quality and possession-based style but expressed confidence in his team's attacking strength and ability to challenge the European champions. He said that despite being underdogs, Belgium believe they can compete and give Spain a tough fight.
“We know we are playing one of the favourites. Spain are probably the best in ball possession and they have been playing in a recognisable way for 15 or 20 years. But we have a great team. We are the second-highest scorers in the World Cup and we are facing the team with the highest expected goals. We think we can do it," he said. “Even if we are the underdogs, we will do everything we can to give them a run for their money," he added.
Also read: Morocco face blow as Saibari ruled out of QF clash against France
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