Kylian Mbappé starred with a goal and an assist, while Ousmane Dembélé added the second to seal the win. Despite an outstanding performance from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Morocco couldn’t overcome the absence of injured striker Ismael Saibari as France ended the Atlas Lions’ remarkable World Cup journey.
France booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals with a composed 2-0 victory over Morocco, as Kylian Mbappé inspired Les Bleus with a goal and an assist.
Despite a spirited defensive performance and several outstanding saves from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, Morocco struggled to create meaningful chances without injured striker Ismael Saibari. France eventually made their dominance count, eliminating the Atlas Lions from the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.
Match Summary
France controlled possession from the opening whistle and tested Bounou early. The Moroccan goalkeeper produced a string of impressive saves, including a brilliant stop from Mbappé’s first-half penalty, keeping the match goalless at halftime.
The breakthrough finally came in the 60th minute, when Kylian Mbappé curled a superb strike into the top corner beyond Bounou to give France a deserved 1-0 lead. The goal saw Mbappé draw level with Lionel Messi on eight goals at the 2026 World Cup and take his career World Cup tally to 20 goals in 20 matches.
France sealed the victory in the 66th minute. Mbappé turned provider, laying the ball into the path of Ousmane Dembélé, who calmly cut inside before curling a right-footed finish past Bounou. Although the Moroccan goalkeeper got a hand to the effort, he couldn’t prevent Dembélé from scoring his fifth goal of the tournament.
Key Moments
5′ – Bounou denies Mbappé’s long-range effort before saving Upamecano’s header.
30′ – Bounou saves Mbappé’s penalty after a VAR delay.
45+5′ – Achraf Hakimi registers Morocco’s first shot with a free-kick that sails wide.
60′ – Goal: Mbappé curls France into a 1-0 lead.
66′ – Goal: Dembélé doubles France’s advantage after Mbappé’s assist.
Player of the Match
⭐ Kylian Mbappé (France)
Mbappé once again proved why he is one of world football’s biggest stars. Despite missing a first-half penalty, he responded with a stunning goal and a perfectly weighted assist, constantly stretching Morocco’s defence with his pace and movement.
Match Stats:
⚽ 1 Goal
🎯 1 Assist
🎯 Penalty Missed
🌍 8 World Cup 2026 Goals
📈 20 Goals in 20 Career World Cup Matches
Morocco Exit With Pride
Morocco’s impressive World Cup campaign came to an end after another disciplined defensive display. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was outstanding, producing several world-class saves to keep his side in contention for over an hour.
However, the absence of injured striker Ismael Saibari left Morocco short of attacking firepower, managing only one effort before halftime and rarely threatening Mike Maignan’s goal.
What’s Next?
France advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup semifinals, where they will continue their pursuit of another world title. Morocco leave the tournament with plenty of pride after another memorable World Cup run, but once again fall short against the reigning European giants.
Final Score
France 2-0 Morocco
Goals:
⚽ Kylian Mbappé (60′)
⚽ Ousmane Dembélé (66′)
Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappé
- France 2-0 Morocco: Mbappé and Dembélé Fire France Into World Cup Semifinals
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