The first quarter-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup took place on July 9. France secured a clinical 2:0 victory over Morocco to become the first side to reach the semi-finals. (Olympic Games)
The French asserted their dominance from the opening whistle, creating several dangerous chances in front of Yassine Bounou’s goal. Morocco remained disciplined defensively and successfully weathered the pressure for a significant period. Bounou even managed to deny Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot in the first half, keeping the game scoreless for the time being.
However, the French talisman finally made his mark in the second half. In the 60th minute, Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock with a brilliant individual run to find the back of the net and put his team ahead. Just six minutes later, he turned provider for Ousmane Dembele, who sealed the 2:0 win with a precise finish.
As the last African representative remaining in the tournament, Morocco fought valiantly until the end but was unable to find a way past Mike Maignan. The French backline offered almost no genuine scoring opportunities as Didier Deschamps' side once again delivered a mature and pragmatic performance.
This match served as further proof of Kylian Mbappe’s exceptional form. His goal and assist allowed the Les Bleus captain to extend his lead at the top of the World Cup scoring charts.
France now awaits its semi-final opponent. They will face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium quarter-final scheduled for July 10. The victor of that clash will take on the French for a place in the World Cup final.
