France advances to World Cup semifinals after Morocco win
FOXBOROUGH (Azat TV) – France asserted its dominance as the prohibitive favorite of the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, defeating Morocco 2-0 in the tournament’s opening quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium. The victory, secured through second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, earns Les Bleus a spot in the semifinals, where they will face the winner of the Spain-Belgium match.
Despite the eventual scoreline, the match remained a tactical stalemate for much of the first half. Morocco’s defensive structure, led by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, frustrated the French attack early on. Bounou notably saved a penalty attempt from Mbappé in the 26th minute, a moment that stunned the crowd and kept the Atlas Lions competitive heading into the halftime break.
Tactical shift breaks the Moroccan defense
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 60th minute when Mbappé, the French captain, found sufficient space to curl a shot around defender Issa Diop and into the right corner of the net. The goal marked his eighth of the tournament and his 20th career World Cup goal. Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead with a low strike from the edge of the penalty area that Bounou could not keep out, effectively sealing the result for Didier Deschamps’ side.
Morocco, playing without key playmaker Ismaiel Saibari, struggled to generate consistent offense, managing only one shot on target out of four attempts throughout the match. By contrast, France maintained relentless pressure, finishing with 22 shots on goal. The French team’s performance highlighted a high-tempo, technical approach that analysts have compared to organized street football, relying on the fluid movement of their attacking quartet.
Implications for the 2026 World Cup trajectory
Following the win, France prepares for its semifinal clash scheduled for July 14 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. While concerns were raised when Mbappé was substituted in the final 15 minutes after appearing to struggle on the pitch, he walked off under his own power and signaled to supporters that he was uninjured. The victory confirms France’s status as the team to beat as the tournament enters its final stages, with the squad demonstrating the depth and clinical finishing necessary to contend for the trophy.
The progression of this French squad underscores a tactical evolution, transitioning from a reliance on individual brilliance to a more cohesive, lethal attacking unit that has effectively dismantled various defensive schemes throughout the tournament. By overcoming the tactical discipline of Morocco, France has signaled that their path to the final relies not just on talent, but on their ability to sustain high-pressure offensive cycles that eventually fatigue even the most organized opponents.