Key takeaways
- France beat Morocco 2-0 in the first World Cup 2026 quarter-final to reach the semi-finals.
- Mbappé missed an early penalty, saved by Bounou, then scored a second-half curler and set up Dembélé.
- France have now won by multiple goals in five of their six matches at the tournament.
- Les Bleus await the winner of Spain v Belgium in the semi-finals.
France are through to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a controlled 2-0 win over Morocco in Foxborough, a rematch of the Qatar 2022 semi-final that once again went the way of Les Bleus. It was Kylian Mbappé’s night — even if it did not start that way.
We previewed this tie as the pick of the last eight; see our France v Morocco quarter-final preview for the pre-match form lines, and the full last-eight bracket breakdown for how the rest of the draw fell.
How the match unfolded
Morocco started the brighter and got an early scare of their own to survive: Mbappé was fouled in the box by Noussair Mazraoui, but his tame first-half penalty was saved by Yassine Bounou, keeping the Atlas Lions level at the break. It was the kind of moment that has ended favourites before — and for 45 minutes Morocco’s disciplined, transition-based game plan looked capable of dragging France toward the extra-time lottery they specialise in.
After the interval, class told. Mbappé curled an inch-perfect finish into the far corner to break the deadlock, then turned provider, releasing Ousmane Dembélé to slot home the second and settle the tie. Two goals, no reply, and France’s poise in the knockout rounds intact.
France look like the team to beat
The performance fit the pattern. France have now won by multiple goals in five of their six matches, and they remain the tournament’s most complete attacking side, with Mbappé leading the line and the scoring charts. Our Golden Boot race update tracks how far clear he has pulled — the missed penalty aside, he is still the man every defence fears.
France have made a habit of finding the decisive moment without ever losing their shape — exactly the profile that wins tournaments.
Les Bleus now wait on the Spain v Belgium quarter-final to learn their semi-final opponent. Either way, their outright price has shortened again, and the market increasingly reads this as France’s title to lose.
The betting angle
A team this consistent changes how you should shop the board:
- Outright value is thinning. With France now odds-on in many books, the smarter edge often sits in derivative markets — team totals, half-time/full-time and Mbappé player props — rather than a short outright. See how football betting odds work if you are weighing those prices.
- Respect the low-scoring knockout script. France won 2-0, and their tighter knockout games have trended toward unders and cagey first halves. That is worth remembering before backing goal-fests in the last four.
- Wait on the semi-final line. France’s opponent is not yet decided, so the semi price will move once Spain v Belgium is settled. Our World Cup winner odds explained shows how those numbers shift round by round.
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The verdict
France did what the best sides do: absorbed the early pressure, survived a missed penalty, and then let their star settle it. On this evidence they are the team to beat, but a semi-final is a fresh coin-flip against elite opposition — so price the next round on matchups, not momentum.
However you play it, keep it fun and keep it in proportion. Set a budget before kick-off, never chase a losing bet, and treat any result as entertainment rather than income. If betting stops feeling like a game, take a break — our responsible gambling page has tools and support. Betting is strictly for players aged 18 and over.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score in France v Morocco?
France won 2-0 in the World Cup 2026 quarter-final on 9 July. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the second half and then assisted Ousmane Dembélé for the second goal, after earlier missing a penalty that was saved by Yassine Bounou.
Who do France play in the semi-final?
France will face the winner of the Spain v Belgium quarter-final. As of publication that tie had not yet been played, so check the latest bracket before betting the semi-final.
