FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final: Kylian Mbappe fires France to win over Morocco
FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final: France took on Morocco in a rematch of the 2022 World Cup semi-final with a spot in the last four of this edition at stake.
France 2-0 Morocco
France continued their pursuit of a third consecutive World Cup final with a convincing win over Morocco in Boston. The tie was a repeat of their semi-final clash in Qatar four years ago, where the European side also emerged victorious.
The 2018 World Cup winners began the game with fine intent as Kylian Mbappe’s first attempt was thwarted for a corner by Yassine Bounou. The Moroccan goalkeeper then kept out Dayot Upamecano’s header as well.
With France’s relentless pressure, Noussair Mazraoui fouled Mbappe inside the box in the 25th minute. Mbappe stepped up to take the delayed spot kick. but Bounou held on to the ball after diving to his left. Didier Deschamps’ side kept knocking at the door, with Bounou making a low save from Desire Doue and Lucas Digne clipping the bar with a long-range effort.
The second half saw more one-way traffic as Morocco struggled to lay a glove on a determined French team. The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Doue played in Mbappe, and the Real Madrid forward curled in a brilliant effort from just inside the penalty area to finally beat Bounou. Six minutes later, they effectively ended the contest.
Mbappe turned provider this time; his lay-off found the advancing Ousmane Dembele, and his low strike from the edge of the area went past Bounou despite the goalkeeper getting a hand to it. The Atlas Lions tried to get a goal back and had their first and only shot on target in the 83rd minute. At the end, it was a comfortable win for France as they look to make amends after losing the previous World Cup final on penalties.
The only concern for them was the sight of Mbappe putting ice on his right ankle after he was substituted in the 77th minute by Jean-Philippe Mateta. The 27-year-old has scored eight goals and has three assists to his name at this World Cup, making him crucial to Les Bleus’ hopes of a third World Cup crown.
Curva Analysis
For Morocco, this tournament proved that their incredible run in Qatar four years ago, when they became the first African team to reach the semi-finals, was no fluke. An impressive draw against Brazil in their opening game was followed by easy wins over Scotland and Haiti.
The first knockout round saw them score a stoppage-time equalizer against the Netherlands before beating them on penalties. In the last 16, they ran out three-nil winners over Canada, showing the resolve of a battle-hardened team.
Yet, the manner of the quarter-final defeat to France, where they failed to impose themselves at any point, means they should know that they have room to progress. We will have a good indication of how much they have learned from this experience when they co-host the next World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
France have what can be described as their golden generation at disposal. Apart from Mbappe, they possess an abundance of attacking riches in the likes of Dembele, Olise, Barcola, and others. They remain stout as ever on the other side of the pitch. They conceded just two goals in the group stages, and their defence is yet to be breached in the knockout phase.
For many, the best French team of the modern era is the one that beat Brazil’s impressive side 3-0 in the 1998 World Cup final and then won the European championship two years later. But this lot might be just up there with them and can make a case for being even better if they win a second World Cup in a span of eight years. Spain or Belgium awaits them next in the semi-finals.
