France beats Morocco 2-0 to reach 2026 World Cup semifinals, with Mbappe and Dembele scoring

Summary

France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal on July 9 in the United States, with Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele scoring to send France to a third consecutive World Cup semifinal. Morocco is eliminated as Africa's last team in the 2026 tournament. Argentine referee Facundo Tello officiated. NBC Sports described France as dominating from start to finish. The round of 16 had concluded July 7, with the final eight including France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina, and Switzerland; the quarterfinals on July 9-10 now determine the four semifinalists. Egypt, eliminated in the round of 16 by Argentina, had formally demanded FIFA action over what it described as controversial refereeing decisions in that match.

Why it matters

France reaching the semifinals for a third consecutive World Cup confirms Les Bleus as the tournament's most consistent performer. Morocco's exit ends Africa's 2026 World Cup campaign; the Atlas Lions had been the continent's sole representative in the quarterfinals. Egypt's formal complaint to FIFA over refereeing in its R16 defeat adds a governance dimension to the African footballing narrative around this stage of the tournament.

What to watch

• Which opponent France faces in the semifinal and whether a fourth consecutive final is possible
• FIFA's response to Egypt's refereeing complaint regarding the Argentina round-of-16 match
• How North African and Arab media cover Morocco's exit and the broader Africa Cup trajectory