France reach World Cup semi-finals after 2-0 win over Morocco

The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached its final four after an action-packed quarter-final stage. France, Spain, England, and Argentina remain in the race for football's biggest prize.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 has reached its business end, with the semifinal lineup now confirmed after a series of dramatic quarter-final encounters. England will face defending champions Argentina in a blockbuster showdown, while Spain take on France in an all-European clash, setting up two mouthwatering fixtures with a place in the final at stake.England sealed their semifinal berth with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Norway, inspired by a sensational brace from Jude Bellingham. The Real Madrid midfielder delivered when it mattered most, overcoming an Erling Haaland-led Norway side to send the Three Lions into the last four. The result also produced memorable moments off the pitch, as former Borussia Dortmund teammates Bellingham and Haaland shared a warm embrace after the final whistle despite their fierce on-field battle. View this post on Instagram Argentina, meanwhile, survived a stern test against Switzerland, eventually prevailing 3-1 after extra time. The reigning world champions were held to a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes before finding another gear in the additional period. Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring, while Argentina capitalized in extra time to book a semifinal date with England. The match also featured its share of controversy, including Breel Embolo's red card following a VAR review and a heated exchange involving Lionel Messi and the referee.The second semifinal promises another thrilling contest as Spain prepare to meet France. Both sides have impressed throughout the tournament with attacking football and resilient performances under pressure. France, led by Kylian Mbappe, have looked clinical in the knockout rounds, while Spain's youthful squad has continued to showcase its technical quality and composure on the biggest stage.With England vs Argentina and Spain vs France on the schedule, the FIFA World Cup 2026 is set for two heavyweight semifinal clashes featuring some of the biggest stars in world football. As four former world champions battle for a place in the final, fans can expect high drama, intense rivalries, and unforgettable moments in the race to lift football's most coveted trophy.

From 48, we’re down to eight. The quarter-finals arrive with four ties that feel evenly matched, each carrying its own storyline. Here’s the clean, accurate, team-by-team guide to France vs Morocco, Spain vs Belgium, Norway vs England and Argentina vs Switzerland. France’s route to the quarter-finals France breezed through a brutal group containing Senegal, Morocco […] By Faz Ali

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele were on target as France surged past Morocco 2-0 to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals on Thursday. Mbappe curled in his eighth goal of the tournament on 60 minutes before Dembele doubled Les Bleus' lead six minutes later to settle a clinical victory at the Gillette Stadium outside Boston. The win sends the 2018 champions into a last-four showdown against either Spain or Belgium in Arlington, Texas on Tuesday. African champions Morocco had been tipped to pose a serious threat to France's hopes of reaching a third consecutive World Cup final. But Didier Deschamps' men were always in control against a limited Moroccan side that failed to register a single shot on goal until an 83rd-minute free-kick by Azzedine Ounahi was parried away by France goalkeeper Mike Maignan. France though, struggled to find a breakthrough, and missed the opportunity to take the lead on 28 minutes when Mbappe saw a penalty saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Mbappe had won the penalty after being brought down by Noussair Mazraoui but was forced to wait several minutes before being allowed to take the kick after a protracted VAR check. Morocco managed to hold out to half-time, but it was always only a matter of time before France's relentless pressure paid off. The breakthrough came on the hour mark, with Mbappe bending a brilliant right-foot shot past Bounou from the edge of the area. Paris Saint-Germain star Dembele made the game safe in the 66th minute, striding forward menacingly from midfield before steering a low finish into the bottom corner. France now await the winner of Friday's quarter-final in Los Angeles between European champions Spain and Belgium. Spain, who have not conceded a single goal so far, eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal in the last 16 and will fancy their chances of overcoming Belgium, who thrashed the United States 4-1 to reach the last eight. On the other side of the draw, holders Argentina face Switzerland in Kansas City on Saturday after staggering into the quarter-finals. The South Americans, aiming to become the first back-to-back champions since Brazil in 1962, advanced to the quarter-finals after an incredible escape against Egypt in the previous round, recovering from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2. The victory saw a string of refereeing decisions go in Argentina's favour, prompting claims from Egypt coach Hossam Hassan that World Cup referees were unfairly favouring the South Americans due to "external" pressure. Those claims were shot down by FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina on Thursday. "Nobody can question the integrity of the FIFA World Cup match officials," Collina said. "Nobody can claim that FIFA Refereeing can be influenced by anyone ..." The winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash will take on either Norway or England, who clash in Miami on Saturday. England's defence faces the unenviable task of having to contain Norway's irrepressible striker Erling Haaland, who has been in blistering form on his team's run to the last eight. A relaxed Haaland said Thursday the pressure would be on England when the teams meet at the Hard Rock Stadium. "I think there's some clear favourites out there, England's one of them," Haaland told reporters. "I think all of you should put every single pressure on the English lads."

The 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals showcase France, Spain, Argentina, and England as they face Morocco, Belgium, Switzerland and Norway in thrilling matchups.

Talking points as France, Morocco, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England, Argentina and Switzerland aim for World Cup glory.