Kylian Mbappe of France shoots a penalty kick during the quarter final match between France and Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Boston Stadium in Boston, the United States, July 9, 2026. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai)

　　BOSTON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- France continued its bid to become the second European nation to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, as it dominated Morocco 2-0 in the first quarterfinals of 2026 World Cup here on Thursday, setting up a clash against the winner between Spain and Belgium.

　　The two sides were locked in a goalless first half before second-half strikes from Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele powered France to victory.

　　France moved into the last 8 after a tough 1-0 victory over Paraguay thanks to Mbappe's penalty, while Morocco knocked out co-host Canada with a convincing 3-0 win. The two sides had already met in the 2022 World Cup semifinal with France winning 2-0.

　　It was almost a lop-sided first-half as France had 13 attempts while Morocco only managed one.

　　Les Bleus threatened from the very beginning, as Mbappe's long range strike was denied by Yassine Bounou, seconds before Dayot Upamecano's header was parried away by the Al Hilal goalkeeper.

　　France won a penalty in the 25th minute, when Mbappe broke into the box and was brought down by Noussair Mazraoui, but Bounou played heroics to save Mbappe's fairly weak attempt.

　　Desire Doue robbed the ball in the 35th minute and surged forward but only saw his strike tipped away by Bounou, while Lucas Digne's rocket in the stoppage time rattled the crossbar.