[2026 World Cup] Mbappe Scores and Assists After Missed Penalty Like Messi... France Defeats Morocco to Reach Semifinals

France Defeats Morocco 2-0 on Goals from Mbappe and Dembele

Mbappe Scores Eighth Goal, Ties Messi as Tournament's Top Scorer

Kylian Mbappe led France to the semifinals, recording one goal and one assist after missing a penalty kick, just like Lionel Messi (Argentina) did in the round of 16.

On July 10 (KST), France defeated Morocco 2-0 in the first quarterfinal match of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup held at Boston Stadium in the United States. Despite a barrage of shots in the first half, France failed to score but broke the deadlock in the early second half with consecutive goals from Mbappe and Usman Dembele. Mbappe has now scored in four consecutive matches since the last group stage game against Iraq, tallying eight goals in this tournament. He is now tied with Lionel Messi (Argentina) as the tournament's top scorer. In addition, following Messi, Mbappe became only the second player in World Cup history to reach 20 career World Cup goals. Dembele scored his fifth goal of this tournament. France will compete for a place in the final against the winner of the Spain-Belgium match at 4:00 a.m. on July 15.

Morocco's goalkeeper Yassine Bounou is saving Kylian Mbappe's penalty kick in the 28th minute of the first half. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News Agency

The first half was dominated by France’s relentless offense. Morocco was on the defensive, managing only a single shot from a free kick opportunity just before halftime. France unleashed a total of 13 shots, including three on target, but failed to find the net. The most painful moment was when their reliable star, Mbappe, missed a penalty kick. France's expected goals in the first half stood at 1.55, while Morocco's was only 0.02.

France pressed forward from the start. In the fourth minute, Mbappe, assisted by Desire Doue, unleashed a powerful right-footed shot, and moments later, Dayot Upamecano connected with Usman Dembele’s cross for a header. However, both attempts were blocked by Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou.

In the 24th minute, Morocco launched a rare attack and earned their first corner kick. However, France quickly regained possession after the corner and launched a swift counterattack. As Mbappe penetrated into the penalty box and attempted to shoot, he was brought down by a tackle from Noussair Mazraoui. The referee awarded a penalty kick. Mbappe took the kick himself, but his shot lacked both placement and power, allowing Bounou, who read the direction perfectly, to make an easy save.

In the 35th minute, Doue intercepted the ball near the halfway line, dribbled solo into the penalty box, and fired a right-footed shot, but once again, Bounou made a crucial save. In stoppage time, Lucas Digne’s mid-range shot hit the crossbar and went over the goal line.

Kylian Mbappe is cheering after scoring the opening goal in the 15th minute of the second half. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Just before halftime, Achraf Hakimi earned a free kick right outside the penalty box for Morocco. Hakimi aimed directly at goal, but his shot sailed well wide of the right post. It was Morocco’s only shot in the first half. The whistle blew immediately after Hakimi’s attempt, signaling the end of the first half.

The second half began with a rare counterattack from Morocco, but France’s defense quickly regrouped and effectively neutralized the threat.

In the 55th minute, Doue’s powerful right-footed shot was once again saved by Bounou. A minute later, Michael Olise broke through to the edge of the penalty area and passed the ball to Mbappe inside the box. Mbappe stretched for it with his right foot, but failed to make solid contact and the ball sailed high.

In the 60th minute, Mbappe finally scored with his fourth shot of the match. From the left side of the penalty area, with Moroccan defender Issa Diop in front of him, Mbappe curled a right-footed shot that zipped inside the right post. Bounou, who had been putting on a series of impressive saves, dove with all his might and reached out, but the shot was too sharp for him to stop.

Ousmane Dembele scored an additional goal in the 21st minute of the second half. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News

Six minutes later, Dembele added another goal. After receiving a pass from Mbappe in the center circle, Dembele drove the ball to the edge of the penalty area and fired a right-footed shot into the Moroccan net. Mbappe recorded his third assist of the tournament. He was substituted out for Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute, ending his match.

In the 84th minute, Morocco created their most threatening chance of the match with a header from Niel El Aynaoui off a corner kick, but ultimately failed to score a consolation goal.

Morocco ended their World Cup journey with a loss to France, just as in the 2022 Qatar tournament. In 2022, Morocco advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup for only the second time in their history, defeating Spain in the round of 16 and Portugal in the quarterfinals to become the first African nation to reach the World Cup semifinals. However, they fell short of the final after a 0-2 defeat to France in the semifinals.

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