Mbappé and Dembélé fire France past Morocco into World Cup semi-finals

France are heading to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a commanding 2-0 victory over Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Goals from superstars Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé ensured Les Bleus continued their quest for back-to-back world titles, extinguishing Morocco's fairy-tale run in the process.

Mbappé magic breaks the deadlock

From the first whistle, France dictated the tempo, suffocating Morocco's midfield and exploiting space behind their backline. The breakthrough came midway through the first half when a slick passing move unlocked the Moroccan defense. Kylian Mbappé, ever the poacher, latched onto a cutback and slotted home with his trademark composure. The Stade de France faithful inside the stadium erupted, and Morocco suddenly faced an uphill battle against the world's best.

Dembélé doubles the lead before half-time

Just before the interval, France struck again. Ousmane Dembélé, starting on the right flank, received the ball on the edge of the box, wrong-footed his marker, and curled a sublime effort into the far corner. The goal was a testament to Dembélé's resurgence under Didier Deschamps, proving his worth in the biggest moments. Morocco, who had conceded only once in the tournament prior to this match, suddenly found themselves two goals down and reeling.

Morocco's resistance falls short

Morocco, the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022, showed glimpses of their counter-attacking threat in the second half. Achraf Hakimi pushed forward, and the Atlas Lions won several set pieces, but France's defense -- marshaled by Raphaël Varane and Dayot Upamecano -- held firm. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris made a crucial save to preserve the clean sheet, ensuring France's path to the final four remained unblemished. The Moroccan fans, who have been a vibrant presence throughout the tournament, could not spark a comeback this time.

What this means for France and the tournament

France's victory sets up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against either Portugal or England. Les Bleus have now won all four of their knockout matches in this World Cup, looking every bit the dominant force they were in Qatar. For Morocco, the campaign ends in the quarterfinals, but they leave with heads held high, having proven their 2022 run was no fluke. The defending champions, however, show no signs of slowing down. With Mbappé and Dembélé in scintillating form, France are the team to beat as they aim for football immortality.