Tournament favourites France secured an easy 2-0 win over Morocco in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which takes Les Blues to the semifinals. Kylian Mbappe scored a brilliant goal in the 60th minute of the game, and striker Ousmane Dembele scored the second goal just six minutes later. This was Mbappe’s 8th goal of the tournament, levelling with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot.
Repeat of the 2022 World Cup Quarterfinal
The match could easily be stated as a repeat telecast of the 2022 World Cup semifinal, where France defeated the Atlas Lions 2-0; the only difference is that this match is the quarterfinal. Now, France will face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinal to secure their place in the third consecutive World Cup final.
Mbappe missed a penalty
Earlier in the match, France was awarded a penalty when Mbappe was tackled down inside the box by Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui during the 27th minute of the game. However, Mbappe could not utilise the penalty. Morocco’s veteran goalkeeper Yassine “Bono” Bounou displayed his penalty-saving brilliance by denying Mbappe. After a lengthy VAR review delayed the kick, Bono remained composed, guessed correctly, and comfortably saved Mbappe’s mediocre shot.
Sheer dominance by France
France dominated with a 21-4 advantage in shots on goal and an 8-1 edge in shots on target. Their second goal came when Mbappé received a pass, tapped it back to Dembélé, and continued forward, drawing defenders and creating space for Dembélé’s shot.
Mbappé’s only other penalty attempt at this World Cup was in France’s 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay. Despite that, France dominated offensively in the first half, holding a 13-1 advantage in shots on goal. Morocco’s best chance came just before halftime when Achraf Hakimi’s free kick from just outside the box went past the right post.
France managed the remainder of the contest firmly, restricting Morocco’s attacking opportunities while maintaining control in midfield with Adrien Rabiot, Michael Ollise, and Manu Kone.
Can Mbappe bag the Golden Boot?
Mbappe’s goal not only secured France’s passage into the semifinals but also intensified the race for the Golden Boot.
The Real Madrid superstar now has eight goals, level with Argentina captain Lionel Messi at the top of the scoring charts. With at least one more match to play, Mbappe remains firmly on course to finish as the tournament’s leading scorer.
Morocco’s never-give-up attitude
Although Morocco bowed out of the tournament, Bono once again enhanced his reputation with another crucial penalty save. The veteran goalkeeper has established himself as one of the standout performers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup and remains among the strongest contenders for the Golden Glove award.
For Morocco, the defeat marked the end of another memorable World Cup journey. While the Atlas Lions fell short against one of the tournament favourites, they once again demonstrated the resilience and defensive organisation that have made them one of international football’s most respected sides.