France Reaches Third Consecutive World Cup Semifinal with Victory Over Morocco

France secured its place in the World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive tournament by defeating Morocco 2-0 in a rematch of the previous World Cup semifinal. The match took place on July 10, 2026, with Kylian Mbappe playing a pivotal role by scoring a powerful goal in the 60th minute and assisting Ousmane Dembele's goal six minutes later. This win extends France's impressive run under coach Didier Deschamps, marking their eighth consecutive victory and twelfth in the last thirteen matches across all competitions.

Mbappe now leads the tournament's scoring chart alongside Lionel Messi, each with eight goals in the current World Cup, and Mbappe has a total of 20 World Cup goals in his career, just one shy of Messi's record. Despite missing a penalty in the first half, Mbappe's second-half performance was decisive in breaking the deadlock after a goalless first half dominated by France.

Morocco, aiming to become the first African team to reach back-to-back World Cup semifinals, exited the tournament with respect after a strong campaign that included wins over the Netherlands and host nation Canada, as well as a respectable 1-1 draw against Brazil in the opening match. France now awaits the winner of the quarterfinal match between England and Norway, scheduled for the following day.