Kylian Mbappe scores as France overcome Morocco, advance to World Cup last four

Kylian Mbappe, France's forward #10, shared a heartfelt hug with head coach Didier Deschamps as he left the pitch after being substituted during the 2026 World Cup quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026.

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Despite having a first-half penalty saved, Mbappe went on to score a magnificent opener, setting France on their way to a 2-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup quarter-final showdown on Thursday, with his weak spot-kick earlier being easily saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

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Mbappe's brilliant curling finish made it 1-0 on the hour mark, marking his eighth goal at the tournament and moving him level again with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.

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Before coming off late on with an ice pack around his right ankle, Mbappe set up Ousmane Dembele to run through and settle the contest watched by 63,811 at the Gillette Stadium, as France knocked Morocco out, just as they did in 2022.

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France's 2-0 win four years ago in Qatar came in the semi-finals, and this time the victory for Les Bleus takes them through to the last four, where they will face Spain or Belgium in Dallas next Tuesday.

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France are looking to reach a third consecutive World Cup final in their last tournament before long-serving coach Didier Deschamps stands down, having won in 2018 and been runners-up in 2022.

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Mbappe is one of the greatest goal-scorers of his generation, and the World Cup continues to bring the very best out of him, with 20 goals in 20 World Cup appearances, just one goal shy of Messi's overall tournament record of 21.

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Morocco, who had more of the crowd behind them, lacked a cutting edge in attack, and France kept a third clean sheet in as many knockout games, with Dembele also on target.

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Despite the loss, Morocco have plenty of exciting young talents, including former France Under-21 captain Ayyoub Bouaddi in their midfield, and will surely be a force to be reckoned with again when they co-host the next World Cup in 2030 alongside Spain and Portugal.

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On Thursday, they were just the latest team to find containing Mbappe at a World Cup to be an impossible task, as the Real Madrid star provoked the penalty as he was scythed down in the area by Noussair Mazraoui after a quick breakaway in the 25th minute.

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Argentinian referee Facundo Tello immediately pointed to the spot, although a review was needed to rule out a foul on Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi in the build-up, and Mbappe's kick was uncharacteristically weak and easily stopped by Bounou.

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The excellent Bounou frequently kept France at bay in the first half, notably tipping a Desire Doue shot around the post after Bouaddi was robbed of the ball, and Lucas Digne crashed a shot onto the top of the bar from distance as the opening half ended goalless.

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France got the reward for their pressure 15 minutes after the restart, as Doue slipped the ball to Mbappe just outside the area, and he controlled before using Issa Diop as a screen to direct a superb strike into the net.

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Mbappe's lay-off in the 66th minute allowed Dembele to advance on goal and curl a shot low into the same corner, a hand from Bounou proving unable to make it 2-0, and Dembele is the reigning Ballon d’Or with five goals at this World Cup.

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With 64 international goals from 104 appearances, Mbappe continues to hog the limelight and cement his status as France's all-time leading marksman.