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World Cup: Mbappé, Dembélé on target for France in win over Morocco

In Boston, France shook off a missed penalty to break Morocco's resistance and win 2-0, with Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé both netting inside a six-minute span.
E. DEVIN
Published on 07/09/2026 at 22:30
2-minute read
Ousmane Dembélé scored his fifth goal of the 2026 World Cup

In Boston, France shook off a missed penalty to break Morocco's resistance and win their World Cup quarterfinal 2-0, with Ousmane Dembélé and Kylian Mbappé both netting inside a six-minute span. Get the latest with the Ligue 1 McDonald's team.

France dominant from the off

France's win came against a Morocco side missing their talismanic striker, Ismael Saibari, but the Atlas Lions did field the Ligue 1 McDonald's duo of Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Ayyoub Bouaddi (LOSC), with RC Strasbourg's Gessime Yassine playing the last 15 minutes off the bench. As for Les Bleus, Hakimi's PSG teammates Désiré Doué and Ousmane Dembélé were both included from the off, and would similarly prove decisive. 

France started the match the better and fashioned a strong chance nearly immediately as Dayot Upamecano's close-range header was well-saved by Yassine Bounou on 4 minutes. France continued ot control the match and midway through the half their dominance resulted in a penalty, taken by Mbappé.After a protracted review, the Real Madrid man would have what was a tame effort save by Bounou. On 34 minutes, Bounou, who made six saves in the match, was sharp again to deny Doué on an incisive run into the box, leaving the match scoreless at the break.

Six minutes, two goals

Just before the hour, France's relentlessness finally paid off, and in spectacular fashion, as Mbappé hit a rocket of a shot that curled past the diving Bono and in just past the far post, one of the forward's most impressive strikes of his already impressive performances in the tournament. Six minutes later, it was his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Dembélé who would double the lead, slotting a low shot from range past the Morocco defence on the counter, netting for the fifth time in the tournament.

From there, the result was academic, as Mike Maignan had but a single save to make on the afternoon. With the win, France advance to Tuesday's quarterfinal against one of Spain or Belgium, in a match set to be played in Dallas. As for Morocco, while they weren't at their best on the afternoon, their nevertheless had a tournament of which to be proud.

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