By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Captain Kylian Mbappe once again rose to the occasion as France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 last 8 match on Thursday in Boston, booking their place in the semi-finals and moving one step closer to yet another world title.
After a tense opening hour, Mbappe broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with a trademark curling finish that left Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou with no chance. The goal was the French icon’s eighth of the tournament, drawing him level with football great Lionel Messi at the top of the Golden Boot standings and taking his overall World Cup tally to 20 goals.
France doubled their advantage just six minutes later when Ousmane Dembele calmly slotted home after a flowing attacking move, effectively ending Morocco’s hopes of another famous World Cup upset. The two quick strikes underlined the clinical edge of Coach Didier Deschamps’ side, who have looked increasingly dominant as the knockout stage has progressed.
The match was not without drama. Mbappe had earlier squandered a first-half penalty after Bounou produced an excellent save, but the French captain responded in champion fashion by scoring when it mattered most. His resilience and ability to deliver on the biggest stage once again proved decisive for Les Bleus.
Morocco, the last remaining African nation in the competition, battled bravely and remained compact for much of the contest. However, the Atlas Lions struggled to create meaningful opportunities against France’s disciplined defence, managing only limited attempts on goal as goalkeeper Mike Maignan enjoyed a relatively quiet evening.
The victory sends France into their third consecutive FIFA World Cup semi-final, highlighting the remarkable consistency of Deschamps’ squad. With stars such as Mbappe, Dembele and Michael Olise leading the attack, the 2018 world champions now appear among the strongest contenders to lift the trophy once again.
France will now face the winner of the Spain-Belgium quarter-final in the semi-finals, while Morocco bow out with their heads held high after another impressive World Cup campaign that further cemented their status among world football’s emerging powers.