The seemingly unstoppable force of Kylian Mbappe and France have continued their quest for FIFA World Cup 2026™ glory with a comfortable victory over Morocco in the last eight. 

The scenes from inside the Boston Stadium for the first quarter-final of FIFA World Cup 2026™. Photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images.

Quarter Finals

France 2-0 Morocco

Kylian Mbappe overcame a missed first half penalty to play a starring role in France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the first quarter-final in Boston. The striker scored one and provided the assist for the second as Les Bleues emulated their semi-final success over the North Africans from 2022, and progressed back to the last four of a third consecutive World Cup.

Morocco had the gloves of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou to thank for sticking in the contest as long as they did, denying French defender Dayot Upamecano from close range inside the first five minutes, and then guessing the right way to stop a tame penalty effort from Mbappe around the half-hour mark. Bounou’s penalty save saw him join an exclusive list of four goalkeepers to have stopped four penalties at the World Cup.

This was expected to be the biggest test of France’s World Cup title credentials yet, but they hardly had to break a sweat, outshooting Morocco by 22 to five, and dominating the contest from start to finish. The Atlas Lions were clearly missing injured striker Ismael Saibari up top, and looked devoid of numbers whenever they pushed forward on the counter.

Mbappe made up for earlier penalty miss to punish Morocco on the hour mark, cutting onto his right foot and beating Bounou from outside the box with a curling effort into the bottom-right corner. Six minutes later he provided the pass that sealed the deal, Ousmane Dembele replicating Mbappe’s effort with a similar strike into the same corner of the net.

The French superstar now joins Lionel Messi atop the golden boot standings on eight goals at FIFA World Cup 2026, with either Spain or Belgium awaiting France in the semi-finals in Dallas next week.

Ousmane Dembele celebrates scoring France’s second goal. Photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images.

Results

France 2 (Kylian Mbappe 60′, Ousmane Dembele 66′) Morocco 0

Yassine Bounou denies Mbappe from the penalty spot to become the goalkeeper with the joint-highest number of penalty saves in World Cup history. Photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images.

What’s Next 

Saturday 11th July 

Quarter-Finals 

Spain v Belgium – 7am NZT 

Photo credit: FIFA via Getty Images