Mbappé scores, assists, then exits with ankle knock as France beats Morocco 2-0 to reach World Cup semi-finals

Match action

France secured a 2-0 victory over Morocco at Gillette Stadium in Boston, becoming the first team to reach the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. After a goalless first half in which Yassine Bounou saved a Kylian Mbappé penalty, the French captain broke the deadlock on the hour mark with a strike into the top corner. Six minutes later, Mbappé turned provider, setting up Ousmane Dembélé to double the lead with a precise finish. The quick double effectively ended Morocco's resistance and sent Les Bleus through.

Mbappé's record chase

Mbappé's goal was his eighth of the tournament, drawing him level with Lionel Messi in the race for the Golden Boot. It also marked his 20th career World Cup goal in just 20 appearances, leaving him one behind Messi's all-time record of 21. The 27-year-old has now scored in each of his three World Cup campaigns and remains the focal point of France's attack.

Injury scare

The captain was substituted in the 78th minute after a heavy challenge from Morocco's Issa Diop, who was booked. Mbappé received ice treatment on his ankle on the bench but later celebrated with teammates and appeared untroubled. Speaking after the match, he downplayed the issue.

It was a knock on the ankle, but I'm fine. JP [Mateta] was better than me to play the final 15 minutes. We know there's only one way to relax, and that's to win. We're in the semi-finals, we're very happy, but there's still a long way to go.

Semifinal path

France will face either Spain or Belgium in the first semi-final on 14 July in Dallas. The victory extends France's run of reaching the last four at three consecutive World Cups (2018 champions, 2022 runners-up). Didier Deschamps' side remains on course for a third straight final appearance.

By the numbers

France has scored 16 goals in the tournament, the most of any team. The duo of Mbappé (8 goals) and Dembélé (5) have accounted for 13 of those, a tally only surpassed by Argentina's entire squad (14). Michael Olise leads the assist charts with five. Mbappé's penalty miss was his second for France and made him only the second Frenchman to fail from the spot at a World Cup, after Karim Benzema in 2014.