The same nightmare: France beat Morocco 2-0 and head to the semifinal

At 4 p.m. in Foxborough, when César Ramos blew the final whistle, the Moroccan players stood still on the pitch. The scoreboard read 2-0 to France. The same score as 2022, in Qatar, when Morocco were eliminated by France in the semifinal. Same opponents, same knockout stage in consecutive World Cups, same result.

Mbappé missed a penalty at 27 minutes — Bounou dove right and saved it with both hands. For a moment, it looked as if Morocco could write a different story. But football doesn't work like that when Kylian Mbappé is on the other side.

At 59, he received on the left and drew a curl into the right corner impossible to save: 1-0. It was Mbappé's 20th World Cup goal — matching the record Lionel Messi had set two days earlier against Egypt. In six days, the two greatest scorers in the tournament's history reached the same number. At 65, Dembélé received inside the six-yard box and slotted it home: 2-0. It was the PSG winger's fifth goal at the World Cup.

France are in the semifinal for the third consecutive World Cup — 2018 (title), 2022 (runners-up), 2026 (still in). Morocco go home. Again. Eliminated by France. Again.

The previous World Cup meeting

The last time France and Morocco met at a World Cup was also the last time an African side played a semifinal. It was 2022, at Al Bayt Stadium. Morocco had eliminated Belgium, Spain and Portugal and became the tournament's fairytale. The world wanted them to reach the final. On the other side stood France.

Theo Hernández scored a volley at 5 minutes. Deschamps threw on Kolo Muani in the second half and the striker made it 2-0 just 44 seconds after coming on — one of the fastest substitute goals in World Cup history. In 2026, in Foxborough, the script only changed actors: Mbappé at 59, Dembélé at 65. Same scoreline: 2-0.

Head-to-head

France at World Cups

France 2026 is the latest chapter in one of European football's most dominant generations. With Mbappé as the face of a two-decade French Federation project, Les Bleus arrive as champions in two of the last three tournaments and runners-up in the other.

1998 was the year of Zidane, Desailly and Henry — 3-0 over Brazil in the Stade de France final. 2018 was Mbappé's moment at 19, scoring in the final against Croatia (4-2), the first teenager to score in a World Cup final since Pelé in 1958. 2022 ended on penalties for Argentina, with a Mbappé hat-trick in the final that wasn't enough. In 2026, the French are aiming for a third title.

Morocco at World Cups

Morocco's World Cup story is one of a country that has always come close to history — and has finally started to write it. In 1986, in Mexico, they became the first African and Arab side to advance from the group stage, finishing top. In 2022, in Qatar, they eliminated Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to the semifinal — the highest finish by an African nation at a World Cup.

In 2026, they came as a serious contender. They advanced in the 48-team tournament, cleared the round of 32 and reached the quarterfinals with another generation full of promise. But on the other side stood France. Again.

France's standouts

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid, 27). Missed his first penalty of this World Cup at 27, but decided it at 59: received on the left and curled it into the right corner. With that goal, he became the second player in history to reach 20 World Cup goals, matching Messi (who hit the number two days earlier). For the first time, two players are tied at that mark — and both still active in the same tournament.

Ousmane Dembélé (PSG, 29). He was a nightmare on the wing for the 65 minutes he was on the pitch. Fast, unpredictable, with the ball glued to his foot. At 65, he received inside the six-yard box and slotted it into the corner: 2-0. Fifth goal of the tournament — the third top scorer of the World Cup, behind only Mbappé and Messi.

Yassine Bounou — best player on either side (Al Hilal, 35). Made 6 saves, including the Mbappé penalty at 27. France's xG was 3.69 to Morocco's 0.14. Without Bounou, the scoreline would have been different. With Bounou, it stayed at 2-0 rather than more.

Morocco's standouts

Achraf Hakimi (PSG, 27). The most dangerous man in Morocco's attack — his runs down the right forced Koundé to work. Defensively he was solid. The problem is that Morocco had just one shot on target in 90 minutes: Hakimi's individual effort was never supported enough by the collective to turn into real danger.

Brahim Díaz (Real Madrid, 26). The player with the biggest creative responsibility on the pitch — the one who links midfield and attack, who tries the magic when spaces close. France's defense (Saliba, Upamecano, Koundé) focused on shrinking the space where Brahim operates. And they succeeded. The number 10 hardly got the ball in a good position.

Market value: €1.2 billion vs €200 million

France's squad is the most valuable at this World Cup, estimated at over €1.2 billion, with Mbappé as the most valuable player in the world in 2026 (€200M on Transfermarkt). Morocco's squad totals approximately €200M, with Hakimi at the top (€85M). At 27, at PSG, Hakimi is one of the best fullbacks in the world — but the gulf between the two squads was reflected in the ratio of clear chances.

Match facts

• 27' — Mbappé penalty SAVED by Bounou
• 59' — Kylian Mbappé (FRA) — 20th World Cup goal
• 65' — Ousmane Dembélé (FRA) — 5th at the tournament

How the match developed

The game started with the most dangerous moment: penalty to France at 27. Bounou saved it and the first half ended 0-0. Morocco's illusion lasted 59 minutes. The second half was what the numbers described: xG of 3.69 to 0.14. Morocco circulated the ball well — 52% possession — but never with real danger. Every time France arrived, they created a clear chance.

Mbappé settled it at 59: curl from the left corner to the right, his 20th career World Cup goal. Six minutes later, Dembélé slotted a low finish inside the six-yard box: 2-0. History repeating with precision — same opponent, same score, same consecutive knockout stage.

Next opponent

France play the semifinal against the winner of Belgium vs Spain. Morocco go home with the pride of two consecutive historic campaigns — and with the bitterness that, at the two biggest moments, the same team was always on the other side.