France vs. Morocco today: Mbappé leads 2-0 quarterfinal win

France beat Morocco 2-0 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Thursday to advance to the 2026 World Cup semifinals. Kylian Mbappé scored the opener and set up Ousmane Dembélé six minutes later, turning a tight match into France's sixth straight victory of the tournament.

The Full Story

France controlled the first half at Gillette Stadium but could not break through. Mbappé sent an early effort wide, and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou then produced the biggest moment of the half when he saved Mbappé's penalty after a lengthy video review. France went into halftime scoreless despite taking 13 shots to Morocco's one, according to the Boston Globe.

The pressure finally produced a goal in the 60th minute. Mbappé bent a shot beyond Bounou to make it 1-0, recording his eighth goal of the tournament, his 12th World Cup knockout-stage goal, and his 20th World Cup goal, according to NPR.

France struck again six minutes later. Mbappé flicked a pass to Dembélé, who found space through the Moroccan defense and finished for 2-0. Morocco created chances late but could not score, while Mbappé left in the 77th minute with a slight limp and later sat with an ice pack on his right ankle.

The result repeated the score from the teams' 2022 World Cup semifinal. This time, Morocco's run ended one round earlier, while France advanced with a perfect 6-0-0 record and a 16-2 goal differential.

Central Figures

Mbappé was involved in both goals and won Man of the Match after recovering from his saved first-half penalty. Dembélé supplied the second goal, while Bounou kept Morocco level through halftime with the penalty stop and several other saves.

Morocco entered without Ismael Saibari, who was unavailable because of a hamstring injury. The Atlas Lions still had overwhelming support in and around Boston, where fans had filled downtown streets and Boston Common with red shirts and flags before the match.

The quarterfinal also reflected Morocco's rise as a World Cup contender. NPR reported that the country invested heavily in its national program and built a major training facility and academy 15 years ago. The squad also included players with strong ties to France, including 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who was born in France to Moroccan parents and chose to represent Morocco.

The Data

France's numbers explain why Morocco spent so much of the match defending. Before the quarterfinal, France had averaged 2.8 goals per match, produced 7.8 shots on target per game, and created 21 big chances, according to Sports Illustrated.

At halftime Thursday, France had taken 13 shots while Morocco had managed one. The crowd of just over 64,000 watched France eventually turn that territorial advantage into two goals during a six-minute second-half burst.

VAR

Video review used to check major refereeing decisions, including the penalty awarded to France.

Goal differential

The difference between goals scored and conceded. France's 16-2 record means a plus-14 differential.

Knockout stage

The part of the tournament in which a loss eliminates a team.

What This Means

France is now one victory away from a third consecutive World Cup final. The 2018 champion and 2022 runner-up has won every match at this tournament, and its star attackers delivered when the quarterfinal was still hanging in the balance.

For Morocco, the defeat does not erase another deep tournament run. The team drew with Brazil, beat Scotland and Haiti, eliminated the Netherlands on penalties, and defeated Canada before meeting France. Its supporters also left a clear mark on the Boston stage, traveling from Morocco, other parts of the US, and elsewhere for the quarterfinal.

The match carried particular significance for American fans because it was the final World Cup game in Foxborough. The Boston Globe reported strong local interest throughout the tournament, including the second-highest FOX local-market rating for the United States' knockout-round win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

What to Expect

France will play its semifinal on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas, against the winner of Friday's Spain-Belgium quarterfinal. The immediate question around the French squad is Mbappé's right ankle after he left the match with a slight limp, though the provided reports did not state that he would miss the semifinal.

Morocco's tournament is over after a second consecutive World Cup elimination by France, both by 2-0 scores.

FAQ

Who won France vs. Morocco today?

France won 2-0 in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

Who scored for France against Morocco?

Kylian Mbappé scored in the 60th minute, and Ousmane Dembélé made it 2-0 six minutes later.

Did Mbappé miss a penalty against Morocco?

Yes. Yassine Bounou saved Mbappé's first-half penalty after a video review confirmed the kick.

Who does France play next in the World Cup?

France will face the winner of Spain vs. Belgium in the semifinals on Tuesday in Arlington, Texas.

Why did Mbappé leave the game?

Mbappé was substituted in the 77th minute with a slight limp and later sat with an ice pack on his right ankle. The provided reports did not give a diagnosis.