A wonder strike from Kylian Mbappe and a clinical finish from Ousmane Dembele saw France cruise into the semi-final of the FIAF World Cup for the third consecutive time.
Mbappe had missed a first-half penalty but made it up for a magnificent opener in the 60th minute that saw France winnig 2-0.
His weak spot-kick was easily saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou but it did nothing to dampen the French attacking flair.
Mbappe’s eighth goal at the tournament, moved him level again with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, before he came off late on and watched the final minutes with an ice pack around his right ankle.
Before exiting, he set up Ousmane Dembele to run through and settle the contest watched by 63,811 at the Boston Stadium, as France knocked Morocco out, just as they did in 2022.
Their 2-0 win four years ago in Qatar came in the semi-finals, and this time the victory for Les Bleus takes them through to the last four. They will face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday.
France are looking to reach a third consecutive FIFA World Cup final in their last tournament before long-serving head coach Didier Deschamps stands down.
More could have been expected from Morocco, who had more of the crowd behind them but lacked a cutting edge in attack as France kept a third clean sheet in as many knockout games.
Nevertheless, they have plenty of exciting young talents – including former France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi in their midfield – and will surely be a force to be reckoned with again when they co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
On Thursday they were just the latest team to find containing Mbappe at a FIFA World Cup to be an impossible task.
The Real Madrid star provoked the penalty as he was scythed down in the area by Noussair Mazraoui after a quick breakaway in the 25th minute.
Argentinian referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, although a review was needed to rule out a foul on Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi in the build-up.
Maybe the wait got to Mbappe, whose kick was uncharacteristically weak and easily stopped. It was a reminder that he remains human, just like Messi who has squandered two penalties at this FIFA World Cup.
The excellent Bounou frequently kept France at bay in the first half, notably tipping a Desire Doue shot around the post after Bouaddi was robbed of the ball.
Lucas Digne crashed a shot onto the top of the bar from distance as the opening half ended goalless, but France got the reward for their pressure 15 minutes after the restart.
Doue slipped the ball to Mbappe just outside the area, and he controlled before using Issa Diop as a screen to direct a superb strike into the net.
France’s all-time leading marksman now has 64 international goals from 104 appearances.
His lay-off in the 66th minute allowed Dembele to advance on goal and curl a shot low into the same corner, a hand from Bounou proving unable to make it 2-0.
Dembele is the reigning Ballon d’Or and now has five goals at this FIFA World Cup, but Mbappe continues to hog the limelight.
