Morocco's remarkable journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on July 10, 2026, with a 2-0 loss to France in the semi-final. The match, played at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, saw France advance to the final against Argentina.
France took the lead in the 20th minute through Kylian Mbappé, who scored his eighth goal of the tournament. Randal Kolo Muani doubled the lead in the 79th minute, securing France's place in the final. Morocco, coached by Walid Regragui, had previously defeated Belgium, Canada, Spain, and Portugal to reach the semi-finals, becoming the first African team to do so.
Despite the loss, Morocco's performance was widely praised. The team's defensive organization and counter-attacking style earned them respect globally. Regragui said after the match, 'We gave everything, but France was the better team tonight. We are proud of what we achieved.'
France will face Argentina in the final on July 13, 2026, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. Argentina defeated Brazil 3-1 in the other semi-final.
