Kylian Mbappe set aside his friendship for a moment as France took down Morocco in the FIFA World Cup 2026, but he later shared a heartfelt message for his close friend Achraf Hakimi. The captain of France emphasized that there were “no feelings” on the pitch, as both players were completely dedicated to helping their teams reach the semifinals. With a solid 2-0 win over Morocco in Boston on Thursday, France made it to the World Cup semifinals for the third consecutive time. However, Mbappe acknowledged that once the final whistle blew, the competitive spirit faded away, and the bond between the two Paris Saint-Germain teammates came back to the forefront.
Mbappe recovered strongly after missing a first-half penalty against Yassine Bounou and finally broke the deadlock in the 60th minute with his eighth goal of the tournament. Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s lead six minutes later. After the match, Mbappe said, “It’ll be harder when I see him again in the dressing room, because then we become human again, we become friends again.”
France to Face Spain Test In World Cup Semi-Final
France’s triumph over Morocco in Boston has not only bolstered their remarkable World Cup journey but also kept their dreams of a third consecutive final alive. Mbappe’s goal marked his eighth of the tournament and his 20th in World Cup history, an impressive feat achieved in just 20 matches. Meanwhile, Dembele’s contribution ensured that Didier Deschamps’ squad remained flawless, boasting six wins out of six in the competition.
At first, France was set to face either Spain or Belgium in the semifinals. However, Spain clinched their spot with a thrilling 2-1 win over Belgium, thanks to Mikel Merino’s last-minute goal in Los Angeles. This result sets the stage for an exciting showdown between two of the tournament’s heavyweights in Dallas.
France heads into the match with the tournament’s top scorer, Mbappe, while Spain rides high on their solid defensive performance and knack for late-game heroics. This semifinal will also reignite the rivalry between Mbappe and Spain’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, as both football icons vie for a coveted place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final.
