Morocco, the last African team in the tournament, lost 2-0 to France in the quarter-final in Foxborough, Massachusetts on July 9, 2026. Despite disappointment, the result represented continued progress for the team, which reached the semi-finals in Qatar four years earlier.
10 July 2026 · Citizen Digital →
Six of eight quarter-finalists are European nations—France, Spain, Belgium, England, Norway, and Switzerland—alongside Argentina and Morocco. Despite the 48-team format increasing non-European representation, Europe's dominance at the business end reflects the continent's concentration of wealth and top talent in major leagues.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →
Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant curling finish after an earlier missed penalty to lead France to a 2-0 victory over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final, with Ousmane Dembele adding a second goal. France will face Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals next Tuesday in Dallas.
10 July 2026 · The Standard →