2026 World Cup: France Defeats Morocco 2-0, Advances to Third Consecutive Semi-Final; Mbappe Exits Due to Injury but Expected to Be Fine

France's star forward Kylian Mbappé missed a penalty in the first half but delivered a standout performance in the second half with one goal and one assist, leading the two-time champion 'Les Bleus' to a 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals. This marks France’s third consecutive World Cup semi-final appearance and keeps alive their hopes of matching the historic feat of reaching three consecutive finals, a challenge previously achieved only by Brazil and West Germany.

In the 25th minute, Mbappé was fouled by Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui in the left side of the penalty area, resulting in a penalty kick. After a lengthy VAR review, Mbappé took the kick in the 28th minute, only to have it saved by Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who correctly anticipated the direction. Mbappé admitted after the match that the long wait disrupted his rhythm: "I got distracted, something I’ve never experienced before."

Despite the first-half setback, the forward, currently leading the Golden Boot race, made his mark in the 60th minute. After Morocco failed to clear the ball, Mbappé received it at the edge of the box, advanced, and fired a precise shot into the far corner, breaking the deadlock. This goal marked Mbappé’s eighth of the tournament and his 20th in 20 World Cup appearances, placing him just one goal behind Argentina captain Lionel Messi on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

In the 66th minute, France extended their lead. Mbappé received the ball inside the box and cleverly laid it off, drawing defenders away and creating space for teammate Ousmane Dembélé to score his fifth goal of the tournament. Dembélé praised Mbappé after the match: "I’m not surprised by his strong response after missing the penalty. He’s our captain, possesses incredible mental strength, and we expect him to score even more goals."

France dominated offensively, recording 21 shots to Morocco’s 4, with a staggering 8 to 1 advantage in shots on target. Morocco’s head coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed disappointment: "We are very frustrated. When we had possession, our transition between defense and attack wasn’t good enough, forcing us to run more. The French players clearly had it too comfortable."

France’s advancement came with a scare. In the 63rd minute, Mbappé suffered a harsh stomp from Moroccan defender Issa Diop but continued playing for 13 painful minutes before collapsing in the 76th minute. He was substituted in the 77th minute and immediately iced his right ankle on the bench. After the match, Mbappé was seen putting his boots back on, celebrating with teammates: "My ankle got hit, but I’m fine. At that moment, Jean-Philippe Mateta was in better physical condition to finish the game." Coach Didier Deschamps confirmed his star player is fit to continue: "Minor ankle pain, nothing serious."

Reflecting on France’s consistent World Cup success, Deschamps credited the squad’s strength: "Because we have great players, excellent players. All praise goes to the players, though perhaps I’ve done my job well too. Performance on the pitch is the only truth." France will face the winner of the Spain vs. Belgium match in the semi-finals, to be held in Dallas next Wednesday (Tuesday U.S. time). In the past two World Cups featuring Mbappé, France reached the final each time, now aiming to become the third nation after Brazil and West Germany to reach three consecutive finals.

When asked if this is France’s greatest-ever team, Mbappé responded cautiously, calling the current squad "full of potential": "But I always say, the strongest team is the one that wins the trophy. I don’t see the World Cup trophy beside me yet, so for now, we’re not the strongest." He emphasized: "The only way to relax is to win. We won’t ease up until we’ve won the title," adding, "We know the upcoming challenges will be tougher than anything we’ve faced, but we’re ready for everything."

(Photos: Associated Press, July 9, 2026)