France secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Morocco in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal, booking their place in the semifinals. Goals from Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud proved decisive at the Al Bayt Stadium, as the defending champions overcame a resilient Moroccan side.
First Half Dominance
France started brightly, with Mbappe opening the scoring in the 17th minute. The Paris Saint-Germain forward latched onto a through ball from Antoine Griezmann, slotting past Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Morocco responded well, but France doubled their lead just before halftime. Giroud headed home from a corner, his 55th international goal, to make it 2-0 at the break.
Moroccan Fightback
Morocco came out strong in the second half, pulling one back in the 58th minute through Sofiane Boufal. The winger cut inside from the left and fired a low shot into the bottom corner, giving France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris no chance. Morocco pushed for an equalizer, but France held firm defensively.
Key Moments and Stats
According to FIFA, France had 58% possession and registered 12 shots on goal, compared to Morocco's 8. Mbappe was named Man of the Match, completing 4 dribbles and creating 3 chances. The win extended France's unbeaten run in World Cup knockout matches to 10 games.
What's Next
France will face England in the semifinals on July 14, while Morocco exit the tournament with their heads held high after a historic run that included wins over Spain and Portugal.
