Kylian Mbappe masterclass pushes France past Morocco into semi-finals.

Kylian Mbappe delivered a stunning second-half strike to lead France to a 2-0 victory over Morocco in Boston, securing their spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals. Didier Deschamps’ squad maintained their relentless pursuit of another global title by breaking down a highly determined Moroccan defence.

French football continues to dictate the global stage, having reached the semi-finals in every tournament since 2018, showcasing a talent pool unmatched by international rivals. Morocco entered the match hoping to recreate their historic 2022 run. They played with immense heart but deeply missed injured forward Ismael Saibari when building attacks. Without his finishing skills, Morocco failed to seriously test French goalkeeper Mike Maignan until the dying minutes.

Yassine Bounou looked unbeatable for the first hour of the match. Morocco’s goalkeeper consistently frustrated French attackers and even saved a penalty from Mbappe following a long VAR delay. France refused to panic despite failing to find the net early on. They dictated possession, restricted Moroccan counter-attacks, and patiently waited for the right moment to strike.

Dembele Seals Semi Final Qualification

Everything changed right on the hour mark. Mbappe collected the ball outside the penalty area, shifted his balance, and curled a brilliant shot past Bounou into the far corner. Six minutes later, his clever forward run pulled Moroccan defenders out of position. This opened up perfect space for Ousmane Dembele, who confidently fired home the second goal.

This sudden explosion of attacking power effectively ended the contest. Mbappe now boasts 20 World Cup goals in his career. His ability to decide tight matches makes France the ultimate team to beat this summer. France will now travel to Arlington to face either Spain or Belgium, looking more threatening than ever.