France secured their place in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a 2-0 victory over Morocco at Boston Stadium. The match showcased a brilliant second-half performance from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, who effectively dismantled a resilient Moroccan defense. Despite a notable penalty save by Yassine Bounou in the first half, France's persistent attacking efforts ultimately paid off. Didier Deschamps' squad will now face the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Spain and Belgium.

Decisive Moments in the Second Half

The match shifted dramatically during a pivotal six-minute period in the second half. France opened the scoring in the 60th minute, thanks to a moment of brilliance from Kylian Mbappé. After receiving a pass from Désiré Doué at the edge of the penalty area, Mbappé displayed exceptional skill, curling a stunning right-footed shot around defender Issa Diop and into the far corner of the net.

In response to the goal, Morocco made tactical changes, introducing Sofyan Amrabat and Soufiane Rahimi to regain control. However, France quickly delivered a second blow in the 66th minute. Mbappé, driving through the Moroccan defense, drew defenders towards him before slipping a perfectly timed pass to Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé seized the opportunity, striking a low shot into the bottom-right corner, which Bounou could only partially deflect as it found the back of the net.

First-Half Challenges

Despite the eventual outcome, the first half proved challenging for France, with Morocco's defense holding firm and Bounou's penalty save keeping the score level. However, the second-half resurgence from the French side highlighted their attacking prowess and determination to progress in the tournament.

With this victory, France continues their quest for World Cup glory, looking ahead to their next challenge in the semifinals.