By Paul Joseph
France ended Morocco’s inspiring FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory in the quarter-finals on Thursday, knocking out the last remaining African and Arab nation in the tournament.
After a tightly contested first half, French captain Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 60th minute before Ousmane Dembele doubled the advantage six minutes later, sealing France’s place in the semi-finals.
Morocco, who entered the match hoping to replicate or surpass their historic 2022 World Cup run to the semi-finals, struggled to find a breakthrough against the disciplined French side. The Atlas Lions were further weakened by the absence of influential forward Ismael Saibari, who missed the clash due to a hamstring injury.
Despite the defeat, Morocco bowed out after another impressive tournament. They progressed from the group stage unbeaten, finishing second behind Brazil on goal difference after drawing 1-1 with the South Americans and recording victories over Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2).
In the knockout rounds, Morocco defeated Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 after edging the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a hard-fought draw in the Round of 32.
France, one of the pre-tournament favourites, maintained their perfect record in the competition, extending their winning streak while continuing an impressive defensive campaign.
The former world champions will now face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Spain and Belgium in the semi-finals scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas, as they continue their quest for a second FIFA World Cup title in three tournaments.
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