France have reached the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after defeating Morocco 2-0 at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on Thursday. The result sends Les Bleus into the last four for the third consecutive World Cup. It also cements their status as one of the tournament’s most consistent sides.

Kylian Mbappe scored his 20th World Cup goal in this match. It was also his eighth goal of this tournament. That tally draws him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi. The milestone adds another historic chapter to the France captain’s remarkable career.

However, Mbappe’s evening was not without concern. He went down in the 77th minute and spent several moments on the ground. Fortunately, he walked off under his own power and showed no limp. This suggested the issue was not serious.

France will next face Spain or Belgium in the semi-final on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The winner of that match will advance to the World Cup final. Therefore, France’s dream of lifting the trophy remains firmly alive.

The deadlock broke in the 60th minute through a moment of brilliance. Mbappe received the ball from Desire Doue. He then bent a stunning effort around Issa Diop and into the far corner. Six minutes later, Ousmane Dembele doubled the lead. The Paris Saint-Germain man drove into the space created by Mbappe’s run. He found the bottom corner with a clinical finish.

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was outstanding throughout. He produced six stunning saves in total. One of those came from a Mbappe penalty in the 28th minute. The France captain slotted to his right, but the effort lacked conviction. Bounou dived onto it comfortably. The penalty came after Noussair Mazraoui squared up Mbappe inside the box.

Meanwhile, Morocco suffered their first defeat of this tournament. Furthermore, France eliminated them for the second consecutive World Cup. Les Bleus also beat Morocco 2-0 in the 2022 semi-finals. Additionally, the Atlas Lions were without key forward Ismael Saibari. He picked up a hamstring injury in their previous match against Canada. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi confirmed on Wednesday that Saibari had failed to recover in time.

Still, Morocco’s campaign remains one of the tournament’s standout stories. Finally, France now turn their full attention to Tuesday’s semi-final as they push for a place in the World Cup 2026 final.