France reaches third straight World Cup semifinal as Deschamps defends Mbappé

France has advanced to a third consecutive World Cup semifinal at the 2026 tournament, beating Morocco 2‑0 with goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé. Coach Didier Deschamps, who now holds the record for most World Cup matches coached (26) and most victories (19), praised Mbappé as an “exemplary captain” after defending him against the “dictator” label used by some critics. The team, the fifth in history to reach three straight semifinals, boasts a youthful squad – 21 of the 26 players are under 30, including midfielder Michael Olise – and has compiled a record of 17 wins in its last 20 World Cup matches. France will face the winner of the Spain‑Belgium quarter‑final in Dallas on 14 July. Deschamps also noted personal challenges, having mourned the deaths of his parents during his tenure, yet maintaining France’s elite status in world football.