Morocco VS France Match Highlights: 2026 World Cup Quarter-Final

Last updated: July 10, 2026

Quick Answer: France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final on July 9, 2026, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 60th minute and Ousmane Dembélé added a second in the 66th minute to send France into the semi-finals. Morocco fought hard but could not break down a disciplined French defence.

Key Takeaways

France won 2-0, advancing to the World Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive tournament
Kylian Mbappé scored his eighth goal of the 2026 tournament in the 60th minute
Ousmane Dembélé netted in the 66th minute, his fifth goal of the competition
Mbappé had a first-half penalty saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou
Morocco held 52% possession but managed only 4 shots, with 1 on target
France registered 20 shots, with 7 on target
This was a direct rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, which France also won 2-0
Argentinian referee Facundo Tello officiated the match
France were set to face the winner of Spain vs. Belgium on July 14, 2026, in Dallas
Morocco’s quarter-final run confirmed their status as Africa’s strongest footballing nation

When Did Morocco Play France and Where Was the Match Held?

Morocco played France on July 9, 2026, in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was held at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, one of the tournament’s host venues in the United States. [1]

The kick-off drew a massive global audience, given the historical weight of the fixture and the narrative of redemption surrounding Morocco. For full tournament scheduling context, the 2026 World Cup first-week schedule and match times provides useful background on how the bracket was structured from the group stage onward.

Morocco VS France Final Score and Match Result

France won 2-0. Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 60th minute, and Ousmane Dembélé doubled the lead in the 66th minute. Morocco were unable to find a way back into the match and were eliminated at the quarter-final stage. [2] [3]

The result sent France through to a semi-final against the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium quarter-final, scheduled for July 14, 2026, in Dallas. [3] For a closer look at that fixture, see the Spain vs. Belgium 2026 World Cup quarter-final guide.

Morocco VS France Match Highlights: The Key Moments

The Morocco VS France match highlights are defined by three pivotal moments that shaped the outcome.

First half, Mbappé’s penalty miss: France won a penalty in the first half. Mbappé stepped up, but Yassine Bounou produced a fine save to keep Morocco level at 0-0 at the break. It was a moment that briefly suggested Morocco could hold on and force extra time. [2]

60th minute, Mbappé redeems himself: After his penalty miss, Mbappé showed exactly why he is considered the best player in the world. He collected the ball, drove at the Moroccan defence, and finished clinically to put France ahead. It was his eighth goal of the 2026 tournament. [2]

66th minute, Dembélé kills the contest: Just six minutes later, Ousmane Dembélé added a second, his fifth goal of the competition. The quick double blow left Morocco with too much to do in the final quarter of the match. [3]

“France’s powerful attack ultimately proved the difference, converting their chances when it mattered most after a tightly contested first half.”, Le Monde, July 10, 2026 [3]

Morocco VS France Match Stats and Possession

Despite losing, Morocco actually edged possession. Here is a full breakdown of the key match statistics: [4]

Statistic	Morocco	France
Possession	52%	48%
Total Shots	4	20
Shots on Target	1	7
Goals	0	2

The numbers tell a clear story. Morocco controlled the ball but could not convert possession into genuine attacking threat. France, by contrast, were ruthlessly efficient, turning 20 attempts into two goals at a critical stage of the match.

How Did Morocco Perform Against France?

Morocco competed well in the first half and kept France scoreless through a combination of disciplined defending and Bounou’s penalty save. However, their attacking output was limited throughout the match. [2]

The Atlas Lions managed just 4 shots in total, with only 1 on target. Despite holding more of the ball, they struggled to create clear-cut chances against a well-organised French defensive structure. Their elimination at the quarter-final stage was still a strong result for an African nation, continuing the progress they began with their historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup. [6]

Morocco’s group stage journey also included a notable fixture against Brazil. For context on how they navigated the earlier rounds, the Brazil vs. Morocco 2026 World Cup group stage highlights cover that clash in full.

Morocco VS France World Cup 2022: The Historical Context

This 2026 quarter-final was a direct rematch of the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where France also defeated Morocco by the same 2-0 scoreline. [6]

That 2022 match was a landmark occasion. Morocco became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, capturing global attention and inspiring a generation of supporters across the continent. The 2026 rematch carried enormous emotional weight, with Morocco desperate to go one step further. [6]

The fact that France again won 2-0 underlines their consistency at major tournaments, while Morocco’s back-to-back deep runs confirm their place among the world’s elite footballing nations.

Morocco France Match Analysis: Tactics and Key Decisions

France set up to absorb pressure and hit Morocco on the counter, a strategy that proved highly effective given Morocco’s possession-heavy approach.

Key tactical observations:

Morocco’s high possession share (52%) reflected their intent to build from the back, but France’s defensive shape denied them space in dangerous areas
France’s front line of Mbappé and Dembélé posed a constant threat on the break, with both players combining pace and technical quality
Bounou’s penalty save in the first half was Morocco’s best moment and kept the tie alive at half-time
The two goals in a six-minute spell between the 60th and 66th minutes were decisive and came from sustained French pressure in the second half [2] [3]
Argentinian referee Facundo Tello, assisted by Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade, managed the match without major controversy [5]

For a preview of how France’s lineup was constructed heading into this fixture, the France vs. Morocco match lineup and 2026 World Cup guide breaks down the tactical selections in detail.

Did Morocco Beat France? Head-to-Head Record

No. Morocco did not beat France in this fixture. France won 2-0 on July 9, 2026, extending their dominance in World Cup meetings between the two sides. [1]

In both of their World Cup encounters (2022 semi-final and 2026 quarter-final), France have won by a 2-0 margin. While Morocco have shown they can compete at the highest level, France have consistently found a way to prevail in knockout football.

Where to Watch Morocco France Highlights and Full Match Replay

The Morocco VS France match highlights and full match replay are available through several platforms. Here are the main options:

FIFA+ (fifa.com/fifaplus): FIFA’s official streaming platform typically hosts full match replays and curated highlight packages for all World Cup games
Broadcast rights holders: In the UK, ITV and BBC share World Cup coverage and post highlights on their respective websites and apps. In the US, Fox Sports and Telemundo hold broadcast rights
YouTube: Official FIFA and broadcaster channels post condensed highlights, usually within hours of the final whistle [8]
Sky Sports: Full match reports and video highlights are available on the Sky Sports website [1]

When searching for the Morocco VS France match highlights online, use specific search terms such as “France Morocco 2026 quarter-final highlights” or “Mbappé goal vs Morocco 2026” to find the most relevant clips quickly.

How to Find Morocco France Match Highlights Online

Finding reliable Morocco VS France match highlights online is straightforward if you know where to look.

Step-by-step approach:

Go to the official FIFA website or FIFA+ app and search for the quarter-final match
Check the YouTube channels of official broadcasters (Fox Sports, BBC Sport, ITV Sport) for free highlight clips
Use Sky Sports’ match report page, which includes embedded video highlights [1]
Search Twitter/X for “Morocco France highlights” to find fan-shared clips and broadcaster posts
Visit LiveSoccerTV for match data and links to legal streaming sources [4]

Common mistake: Many fans search for highlights immediately after the match and land on unofficial streams with poor video quality or misleading titles. Stick to verified broadcaster channels for the best experience.

FAQ

What was the final score of Morocco vs France in 2026? France won 2-0. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 60th minute and Ousmane Dembélé added a second in the 66th minute at Gillette Stadium on July 9, 2026. [1]

Who scored for France against Morocco? Kylian Mbappé (60th minute) and Ousmane Dembélé (66th minute) scored the two goals for France. [2] [3]

Did Mbappé score a penalty against Morocco? No. Mbappé had a first-half penalty saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. He did, however, score from open play in the 60th minute. [2]

Who was in goal for Morocco against France? Yassine Bounou started in goal for Morocco and made a crucial penalty save in the first half to keep Morocco in the match at half-time. [2]

Was this the first time Morocco played France at a World Cup? No. This was the second consecutive World Cup meeting between the two sides. France also defeated Morocco 2-0 in the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. [6]

How many goals has Mbappé scored at the 2026 World Cup? Mbappé’s goal against Morocco was his eighth of the 2026 tournament, making him the leading scorer at the time of the quarter-final. [2]

Where was the Morocco vs France 2026 match played? The match was played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA. [1]

Who refereed the Morocco vs France match? Argentinian referee Facundo Tello officiated, assisted by compatriots Juan Pablo Belatti and Gabriel Chade. [5]

What were Morocco’s possession stats against France? Morocco held 52% possession compared to France’s 48%, but managed only 4 shots with 1 on target. [4]

Where did France advance to after beating Morocco? France advanced to the semi-finals, where they were set to face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium quarter-final on July 14, 2026, in Dallas. [3]

How many shots did France have against Morocco? France registered 20 shots in total, with 7 on target, compared to Morocco’s 4 shots and 1 on target. [4]

Where can I watch the Morocco vs France highlights? Highlights are available on FIFA+, official broadcaster YouTube channels (Fox Sports, BBC Sport, ITV), and the Sky Sports website. [1] [8]

Conclusion

The Morocco VS France match highlights from July 9, 2026, tell the story of a classic World Cup knockout encounter. France were clinical when it mattered, with Mbappé and Dembélé combining to score twice in six second-half minutes after Bounou’s first-half penalty save had kept Morocco alive. Morocco competed hard and even edged possession, but their lack of attacking output (just 4 shots, 1 on target) ultimately cost them.

Actionable next steps for football fans:

Watch the full match replay on FIFA+ or your national broadcaster’s streaming platform
Follow France’s semi-final progress against Spain or Belgium on July 14, 2026, in Dallas
Read the France vs. Morocco lineup guide for a deeper tactical breakdown
Check the 2026 World Cup complete dates and schedule guide to plan your remaining viewing
Keep an eye on Morocco’s development as they build toward the 2030 World Cup cycle

This result confirms France as genuine 2026 World Cup contenders, while Morocco’s quarter-final exit does nothing to diminish a nation that has now reached the last eight in back-to-back tournaments.