Kylian Mbappe netted his eighth goal of the tournament to propel France into the last four of the 2026 World Cup, as Didier Deschamps’ side dispatched Morocco 2-0 in a commanding quarter-final display.
The match, a repeat of the 2022 semi-final encounter that France also won by the same scoreline, confirmed the European giants’ status as the competition’s dominant force. Despite an early setback from the penalty spot, the French squad demonstrated the composure and quality that has made them the overwhelming favourites throughout the tournament.
Mbappe Atones for Penalty Miss with Brilliant Finish
The opening period brought both frustration and promise for Mbappe. A first-half foul by Noussair Mazraoui — the Manchester United full-back — handed France a spot-kick, yet the Real Madrid forward’s attempt was unconvincing, his low effort to the right easily gathered by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
The miss threatened to become a defining moment, but Mbappe refused to let it define his evening. Fifteen minutes into the second half, he collected the ball just inside the penalty area and curled a precise, arcing shot beyond Bounou’s reach, giving France the lead they had long deserved. It was a response that underlined his status as one of the world’s elite attackers.
Dembele Doubles the Advantage to End the Contest
Six minutes after Mbappe’s opener, the tie was effectively settled. Ousmane Dembele, the reigning Ballon d’Or holder, was given too much space to advance on the Moroccan backline. His composed, low drive crept into the net despite Bounou managing to get a hand to the ball — a moment of individual quality that extinguished any lingering Moroccan hopes.
The two-goal cushion reflected France’s overall superiority throughout the ninety minutes. Morocco, ranked seventh in the world, were largely restricted to peripheral involvement, managing just a single shot on target — and that came in the 83rd minute when the outcome had already been decided.
Mbappe and Messi in Historic Golden Boot Race
Mbappe’s goal drew him level with Argentina’s Lionel Messi on eight strikes for the tournament, though the Frenchman now holds the edge in the Golden Boot standings by virtue of his superior assist tally compared to his former Paris Saint-Germain colleague.
The two forwards are also locked in a remarkable pursuit of the all-time World Cup scoring record. At 27, Mbappe has now accumulated 20 international tournament goals, closing in on the benchmark of 21 set by the 39-year-old Messi. The race between the two generational talents adds an extraordinary subplot to an already captivating competition.
France’s Dominant Tournament Run Continues
With this victory, France have now won six consecutive matches at the 2026 World Cup, accumulating 16 goals in the process — the highest tally of any team remaining in the competition. Their next assignment is a semi-final clash against either Spain or Belgium, scheduled for Tuesday in Dallas (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Former England international Ian Wright had described Deschamps’ squad as “one of the most clear favourites for a World Cup tournament I have ever seen” ahead of this tie, and nothing in the performance against Morocco suggested otherwise. France won the tournament in 1998 and 2018, and a third title on 19 July remains firmly within reach.
Morocco Fail to Replicate 2022 Heroics
The Atlas Lions arrived in this quarter-final having impressed many observers throughout the group stages, but they were unable to reproduce the form that had made them such a compelling story four years ago. Their attacking output was minimal — five attempts in total, with four failing to trouble the goalkeeper — and they never truly threatened to unsettle the French defensive structure.
The only concern for France came late in the match when Mbappe was withdrawn in the 77th minute with ice applied to his right ankle. However, the forward quickly dispelled any injury fears by celebrating enthusiastically with his teammates after the final whistle, suggesting the precaution was routine rather than serious.
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