Why France Are the Team to Beat as Mbappé Fires Les Bleus into World Cup Semi-finals
France strengthened their status as favourites to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup after beating Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals.
Didier Deschamps’ side once again showed their quality, dominating a Morocco team that had impressed throughout the tournament but struggled to cope with the French attack.
Kylian Mbappé recovered from an early penalty miss to score his eighth goal of the tournament before Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembélé added a second just six minutes later to seal another convincing victory.
Mbappé won the first-half penalty after being fouled by Noussair Mazraoui, but his weak spot-kick was comfortably saved by Yassine Bounou. The Real Madrid forward responded in style after the break, curling a superb effort into the corner in the 60th minute.
Dembélé then wrapped up the win with a powerful low strike that slipped through Bounou’s hands, leaving Morocco with no way back.
France completely controlled the game and limited the Atlas Lions to just one shot on target and five attempts in total, proving once again why they are considered the strongest team left in the competition.
The victory was France’s sixth in a row at the World Cup, and they have now scored 16 goals in six matches, more than any other team in the tournament.
Mbappé is also leading the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals and has now equalled Lionel Messi’s tally at this World Cup. The 27-year-old has also reached 20 World Cup goals, moving within one of Messi’s all-time record of 21.
France, champions in 1998 and 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will now face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals as they continue their bid for a third FIFA World Cup title.
With Mbappé in top form, Dembélé producing big performances and a defence that continues to shut down dangerous opponents, Les Bleus are increasingly looking like the team every nation must beat.
