France beats Morocco 2-0 with Mbappé goal and assist to reach semifinals

France secured a place in the World Cup semifinals by beating Morocco 2-0 in the quarterfinal in Boston. The match started with an early chance: in the 4th minute, Dayot Upamecano headed goalwards, but Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a save.

Around the 20th minute came a defining moment. Kylian Mbappé was fouled in the penalty area, and after a lengthy VAR review, a penalty was awarded. After a delay of nearly four minutes, Mbappé took a weak shot, and Bounou saved comfortably. It was the seventh penalty Bounou has saved in World Cup competition.

In the 35th minute, Moroccan youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi lost possession in midfield, allowing Désiré Doué to break through, but his shot was also saved by Bounou. In first-half stoppage time, French defender Lucas Digne hit the crossbar from long range.

France's pressure finally paid off in the second half. In the 60th minute, Mbappé curled a precise shot into the far top corner from the edge of the box to make it 1-0. Six minutes later, Mbappé set up Usman Dembélé, whose shot, though not powerful, was accurate enough to beat Bounou at the near post – 2-0.

Fifteen minutes before full time, Mbappé suffered a slight ankle injury and was substituted. This was only the fourth occasion in the last 60 years that a player has scored, assisted, and missed a penalty in a single World Cup match. Overall, Mbappé has been involved in 11 goals at the 2026 tournament (8 goals, 3 assists), the most since Gerd Müller in 1970.

Match statistics: France had 44% possession, Morocco 49%; shots 22-5 in favor of France. France will face the winner of Spain vs Belgium in the semifinals.