It was a fair decision by FIFA: former USMNT player
Former US men’s team defender Jonathan Bornstein discusses FIFA’s controversial decision to overturn Balogun’s red card suspension, allowing him to participate in the crucial World Cup round of 16 match. Bornstein explains why the decision was “appropriate”, comparing it to the Norwegian coach’s criticism. The United States will face first-place Belgium.
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For the second consecutive World Cup, France sent Morocco home with a 2-0 victory.
In 2022, it was a historic semi-final, as Morocco became the first African team to reach this stage of the tournament. But France beat them to reach the World Cup final in Qatar.
Four years later, history repeated itself in the quarter-finals, when Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé scored second-half goals to send France back to the semi-finals.
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Kylian Mbappe of France celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 9, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images)
France will now await the winner of Spain and Belgium, who will face each other on Friday at 3 p.m. in Los Angeles.
Much like Paraguay in the round of 16 against France, Morocco were clearly focused on their defense, ensuring that players like Mbappé did not have easy lanes to score.
It worked to start the match, although France immediately went on the offensive and stayed there throughout. However, Morocco faltered when a foul was committed in their own area, forcing a penalty.
KYLIAN MBAPPÉ’S SEVENTH WORLD CUP GOAL LIFT FRANCE BEFORE PARAGUAY IN ROUND OF 16 PHYSICAL
Mbappé approached the ball, but the head referee was waiting for the signal to see if a VAR check was necessary before he could take the penalty. The referee awarded a penalty on the pitch, but Mbappé was left frustrated as he had to keep repeating his routine several times before finally getting the chance.
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou read Mbappé like a book, as the French superstar tried to encourage him to move before his kick. But Bounou stood like a statue before pouncing to his left and keeping the scoreboard silent in the first half.
Morocco only registered its first real scoring opportunity in stoppage time, demonstrating France’s control of the match. It was only a matter of time before the Blues finally broke through.
French striker Ousmane Dembélé celebrates his team’s second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026. (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP)
After returning to their attacking path in the second half, they left it to Mbappé to find just enough space in the Moroccan box, with defenders wrapped all around him, to fire a perfectly placed kick past a diving Bounou for his eighth World Cup goal.
Mbappé is tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the lead at this World Cup, while also having 20 in his career. Messi, who broke the all-time World Cup goalscoring record earlier in the group stages, is up to 21 goals.
When Morocco finally conceded, France began to find more space as their opponent was forced to open the scoring in an attempt to equalize. Dembélé exploited one of these gaps to perfection.
In the 66th minute, Dembélé, using his weaker right foot, kept a low shout towards Bounou’s net. Although the Moroccan keeper got his hands on it, he didn’t have enough as the ball spilled into the back of the net.
At this point, France knew they had the space they needed on the scoreboard to get out of the game. Although Morocco tried, they couldn’t do anything and Didier Deschamps’ team once again proved how dominant they could be at this World Cup by qualifying for the semi-finals.
French striker Kylian Mbappe and Moroccan midfielder Azzedine Ounahi battle for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-final between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026. (FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
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France will play July 14 at 3 p.m. in Dallas, where it could face a Spain team that has yet to concede a goal in this tournament, or a Belgium team that eliminated the American team to reach the quarterfinals.
