Morocco’s 26-man roster featured 20 players born overseas, with Bouaddi among them. In recent years, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) has done an outstanding job of recruiting players from the Moroccan diaspora, and Bouaddi is a prime example.

The 18-year-old went back and forth over his international future before ultimately choosing to represent Morocco, his parents’ homeland, after Didier Deschamps and the French senior national team never gave him an opportunity. Although the Atlas Lions’ journey came to an end against Les Bleus, Bouaddi expressed no regrets about his decision.

Bouaddi doubles down on national team choice

In another life, Bouaddi could’ve been on the winning side of history that unfolded in Foxborough. Instead, he’s settling for Morocco’s prize money after their quarterfinal elimination. Still, Bouaddi chose this path, and he’s fine with the result.

“I don’t regret choosing Morocco. It’s a choice made from the heart, no matter what happens,” Bouaddi said after France’s 2-0 win over Morocco eliminated the Atlas Lions from the 2026 World Cup, via Le 360. “A match isn’t some divine science. It doesn’t necessarily go as planned. We’re going to give it our all to come back even stronger.”

Bouaddi’s journey

Born in Senlis (about an hour from Paris) on October 2, 2007, to Moroccan parents, Bouaddi played for France’s youth national teams at every age level. In fact, he captained Les Bleus‘ U-21 squad at just 17 years old. However, the LOSC Lille product was fixed on playing at the 2026 World Cup. Seeing that Deschamps wouldn’t call him up to the 26-man roster, he finally gave in to Morocco’s seduction.

Bouaddi had turned the Atlas Lions down ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, he had a change of heart months before the 2026 World Cup and joined Mohamed Ouahbi’s side. In fact, Bouaddi made his national team debut and earned his first official international cap for Morocco in May 2026, just weeks before the start of soccer’s biggest tournament.

Bouaddi’s market value

The spotlight wasn’t too bright for him, as the central midfielder caught the eye of the world and is drawing massive interest from clubs across the globe. According to Transfermarkt, Bouaddi currently has a market value of around $50 million. He’s the second-most valuable Moroccan according to that source, behind only Achraf Hakimi, who is reportedly nearing the $80 million mark.

Mbappe provided an injury update after being subbed off against Morocco, but he made his impact while he was on the pitch. With a goal and an assist, Mbappe showed no signs of being affected by the missed penalty. His cool, calm, and collected mindset was on full display as Mbappe admitted he felt no emotions about sending a close friend home from soccer’s biggest tournament.

Although Hakimi and Morocco will receive millions in prize money after their World Cup elimination, that figure served as little consolation after yet another defeat at the hands of Mbappe and France.

“[Was it difficult to see Hakimi sad?] No, there are no feelings involved on the pitch. I’m here to win,” Mbappe admitted to reporters after the game in Boston (Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA). “It’ll be difficult when I see him in the locker room and we go back to being humans and friends.“

Mbappe shows mentality

When he steps onto a soccer pitch, Mbappe puts up a shield. He shows no emotions and will go any distance to win. He has made that crystal clear throughout his career and at the 2026 World Cup.

Those searching for recent examples can look at Mbappe’s antics against Paraguay in the Round of 16, when he was involved in several arguments before, during, and after the game with opposing players, including Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill.

Against Morocco, he was no different, showing no remorse even after seeing Hakimi in tears as Argentine referee Facundo Tello blew the full-time whistle. While it may be polarizing, this mentality has paid off for Mbappe, who’s having arguably his best World Cup—which is saying a lot.

Mbappe’s numbers at 2026 World Cup

Mbappe has been a man on a mission. Through six games at the 2026 World Cup, he’s scored eight goals and assisted three others. Mbappe’s eight goals are tied for the most at the 2026 World Cup with Lionel Messi. In fact, Mbappe and Messi’s scoring performances at the World Cup don’t look exactly identical, but they do rhyme.

Mbappe has scored eight goals in back-to-back World Cups, becoming the first player to ever accomplish such a feat in soccer’s biggest tournament. As Mbappe can’t put a foot wrong, it’s easy to see why he doesn’t have time to feel sorry for his opponents, even when it’s Hakimi.

Deschamps’ first reaction to Mbappe’s substitution, according to Bein Sports: “With Kylian, it was a bit of his ankle; he was feeling a bit of pain. Manu took a blow to the knee—it’s normal; the matches are coming thick and fast. It’s good for Warren, though I can’t please everyone.”

“I imagine there is a lot of fervor in France; here, we are a bit in our own bubble,” Deschamps added. “We are passing another milestone today, finding ourselves in the final four once again… it means we are right where we belong!” Mbappe was substituted in the 77th minute for Jean Mateta.

Mbappe injury update

Beyond the words of Deschamps, Mbappe provided his own injury update, bringing calm to anxious fans. He made it clear that it is nothing serious or anything to worry about, adding that exiting the pitch was the right decision for both himself and the team during the final stage of the match.

“I’m okay, I took a blow to the ankle but I’m fine,” Mbappe said. “At that moment, JP (Mateta) was better suited than I was to play the final 15 minutes, so I came off and he came on. It’s good, plus he almost scored.”

What is next for France?

France secured their third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance, a streak that began in 2018 when they were crowned champions. They are now just one match away from reaching three straight finals, a tremendous statistic in a World Cup. The milestone also extends to Kylian Mbappe, who remains one of their key figures with 8 goals already scored in this edition.

France await their opponent, as Spain and Belgium will play in the quarterfinals to determine who advances. The semifinal match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET at Dallas Stadium, a matchup where the men led by Deschamps enter as favorites.

Mbappe said the following in a postgame interview, “I’m okay, I took a blow to the ankle but I’m fine. At that moment, JP (Mateta) was better suited than I was to play the final 15 minutes, so I came off and he came on. It’s good, plus he almost scored.“

Hence, Mbappe is setting the alarms off. He is right, he got hit in the ankle and given that the game was already heavily leaned in France’s favor, he opted to not finish the match vs. Morocco. Manager Didier Deschamps also spoke on Mbappe’s ankle injury, confirming the striker’s words.

Mbappe missed a penalty but still won Man of the Match vs Morocco

Mbappe might have missed a penalty vs Morocco, but then scored a worldie and assisted Ousmane Dembele for France’s statement goal over the Atlas Lions. Hence, the redemption was outstanding.

Mbappe is just too impactful for France. As Mike Grella of CBS Sports put it, “90 minutes is too long. They need to shorten the game if they want to stop him.” However, Mbappe didn’t even play the full 90 minutes vs Morocco and was still unstoppable.

Mbappe will be ready for France’s semifinal matchup

France already knows when and where they’ll play the semifinals, just not who yet. What Les Bleus also know is that Kylian Mbappe will play, as the ankle hit is very minor and won’t represent any absence from the 2026 World Cup.

Given that Mbappe has 20 goals in 20 appearances in the World Cup, this is magnificent news for France. While they have a plethora of talented players, Mbappe was born for this tournament.

Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the FIFA Council approved a record-breaking amount in financial contributions for soccer’s biggest tournament. Naturally, this meant the winner would take home an even bigger purse in addition to immortal glory. However, it also meant those who fell short would receive a bigger consolation prize. For Morocco, money won’t ease the pain of falling at the hands of France, but it could certainly help.

Having lost to France by a score of 2-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, Morocco are guaranteed to finish among the top eight teams in the tournament. Thus, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (RMFF) will receive $19 million (USD). Moreover, under FIFA’s approved prize pool, each qualified team receives a $1.5 million bonus meant to cover preparation costs.

As a result, Morocco will walk away with a total of $20.5 million for its quarterfinal elimination at the 2026 World Cup. How that money will be be distributed among the players on Morocco’s roster, which features several players born overseas, will depend on the terms agreed upon by the RMFF.

How much had Morocco received in 2022?

After finishing in fourth place at the 2022 World Cup (2-1 loss to Croatia in the third-place match), Morocco received $25 million. Their share came from the overall prize pool of $440 million for the World Cup in Qatar. In 2026, Morocco received only $4.5 million less despite playing one fewer game overall. Morocco played six games in 2026, whereas in 2022 they played seven.

Prize pool went up for 2026 World Cup

The record-breaking figure agreed upon by the FIFA Council meant the overall prize pool for the 2026 World Cup would be $655 million. Percentage-wise, that represented a nearly 50% increase compared to the 2022 World Cup, which had already been a record-setting tournament in terms of prize money. One can only guess the 2030 World Cup will see a similar increase in financial contributions.

However, that’s the last thing on Morocco’s mind, as they will be co-hosts of that tournament. The Atlas Lions are automatically qualified for the 2030 World Cup, so their focus from now on will be on making history. Morocco already hold the record for the furthest an African team has ever gone at a World Cup, but they want more.

Perhaps, Morocco can become the first African team to win soccer’s biggest tournament. Since 1930, the list of World Cup champions has never included a national team from the Cradle of Humankind. What better setting for the Atlas Lions than to hoist the trophy at home?

Mbappe was substituted but first made his mark in the matchup. He initially missed a penalty, which put France in a tough position and placed Mbappe on an unwanted list alongside Karim Benzema after Bono made a spectacular save to join an exclusive list of his own.

However, it did not end there. He also scored a stunning goal in the 60th minute after receiving an assist from Desire Doue. Mbappe found himself in the box with defenders draped over him, executed a quick cut close to his foot to open up space, and unleashed a cross-shot that left Bono with no chance, making the score 1-0 and tallying his 8th goal of the World Cup.

Is Mbappe’s injury serious?

It is a great sign that Mbappe walked off under his own power, and perhaps it was a personal decision not to risk his physical condition given that France were already winning 2-0. The move also keeps the semifinals in mind, where they will face a more than complicated opponent in the winner of Spain vs Belgium.

A notable detail from the broadcast showed Mbappe on the substitutes’ bench, seated with what appeared to be ice on his instep and his cleats already removed, but at full time, Mbappe was jumping and running around celebrating. An official statement is expected, with hopes that it is nothing serious.

What is next for France and Mbappe

With the victory over Morocco, France await their semifinal opponent, marking their third consecutive World Cup semifinal appearance since 2018. As previously mentioned, the matchup will be against the winner of Spain vs Belgium.

The match is scheduled for Tuesday, July 14, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET at Dallas Stadium. It is a matchup that will generate plenty of discussion. On the other side of the bracket, more highly intriguing fixtures await, including England vs Norway and Argentina vs Switzerland, as this beautiful competition edges closer to its conclusion.

Long-standing records continue to be smashed left and right at the 2026 World Cup. This time, however, a feat was matched despite France and Morocco failing to score a goal in the first half of the opening quarterfinal.

As reported by Spanish statistician Mister Chip (@2010MisterChip on X), Bounou recorded his fourth penalty save (including shootouts) in World Cup history. With that total, he joined Harald Schumacher, Sergio Goycochea, Iker Casillas, and Dominik Livaković as the goalkeepers with the most penalty saves in World Cup history.

Bounou has mastered penalties

Bounou first burst onto the scene during the 2022 World Cup, when his heroics in a penalty shootout helped Morocco eliminate Spain in the Round of 16. Ever since, he’s become one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and penalties have been his magnum opus.

At the 2026 World Cup, Bounou rose to the occasion once again, as the Atlas Lions eliminated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the Round of 32. The 6-foot-3 goalkeeper is so good at stopping shots from the spot that he gets inside opponents’ heads.

His frame and revolutionary technique consist of fully committing to one side, essentially turning every penalty into a 50-50 gamble. If he guesses correctly, chances are he will stop the shot no matter how accurately the ball is placed. Against Mbappe, however, Bounou steered away from his typical approach, and it paid dividends, regardless.

Bounou extends record lead

Bounou engages in mental battles with penalty takers, so it’s no mystery so many players have missed penalties against him even when he doesn’t make the save himself. According to Mister Chip, Bounou holds the record for the most missed penalties forced in World Cup history with a total of seven.

That means he’s saved four penalties and forced opponents to miss the target entirely three times. Simply put, Bounou gives his rivals a choice: they either play it too safe and he saves it, or they go for too much and miss the target. Either way, taking a penalty against Bono is basically choosing one’s poison.

Bounou’s penalty shots stats at World Cups

Although Bounou was on the roster for the 2018 World Cup, he didn’t play a single minute in his first tournament. Thus, across his first two active World Cup appearances (2022 and 2026), Bounou has faced a total of nine penalties. He has been beaten only twice, while saving four and seeing three miss the target.

His numbers translate to a whopping 44.4% save rate, with 77.7% of the penalties he’s faced ending without a goal, and only a 22.2% conversion rate for the penalty taker. While penalties heavily favor the shooters, against Bounou, a penalty is an ordeal rather than a blessing.

It is a tremendous statistic: France have only missed two penalties in regular play (outside of shootouts) in the entire history of the World Cup. And within that list, there are only two players: Mbappe and Benzema.

• Benzema — 2014 (against Switzerland)
• Mbappe — 2026 (against Morocco)

Mbappe missed his penalty in the 28th minute, and Bono made a great save, joining an exclusive list. In his time, Karim Benzema missed his penalty and became the first player to waste a penalty in the Brazil 2014 World Cup against Switzerland in the group stage, a match that France still won 5-2, and Benzema still had the opportunity to score.

A penalty that could cost them dearly

The penalty can make a difference in the match, but speaking individually, Mbappe, one of the top scorers of the 2026 World Cup, stalled in the race for the Golden Boot by wasting the penalty in the match against Morocco.

The penalty kick was awarded after Mbappe himself was brought down in the box. Mbappe has seven goals in the North American World Cup, while Argentina’s Lionel Messi leads as top scorer with eight goals. Norway’s Erling Haaland has the same tally as the French attacker.

What is worth emphasizing is that Messi and Haaland will have played one fewer game, as they have their pending quarterfinal matches: Argentina against Switzerland and Norway against England. Harry Kane is not far behind with 6 goals, which is crazy.

Bono’s historic achievement

With the penalty saved against Mbappe, Bono makes history by joining the list of goalkeepers with the highest number of penalties saved in a World Cup, with a total of 4 penalty saves (including shootouts):

• Bono (Morocco) — 4
• Harald Schumacher (Germany) — 4
• Sergio Goycoechea (Argentina) — 4
• Iker Casillas (Spain) — 4

In a tournament were not too many goalkeepers have shined above the others, Yassine Bono is one of the few that really has shown a top form throughout the 2026 World Cup. The guy, at times, looks unbeatable as France have come to know in this matchup. In fact, Mbappe joined Karim Benzema in an unwanted World Cup list with this penalty miss.

Bono, in the first half alone, already had four world-class saves and is the only reason why France haven’t been able to score. However, it’s also an alert on Morocco, that have been dominated and are needing their goalkeeper to play Superman to not go down. What it’s clear is that Bono will definitely have a say on whether France win, tie, or lose to Morocco.

Bono is not afraid of the big stage

While Bono didn’t win the Golden Glove in the 2022 World Cup (losing to Emiliano Martinez who won the tournament), Bono arguably was the best GK in that tournament. Martinez had clutch moments, but overall, Bono was the rising star.

Then, in the 2025 Club World Cup, Bono once again shone for Al Hilal. Now, in 2026, Morocco are relying once again on Bono to make miracles. Bono is also elite when it comes to saving penalties as a whole, as proven in the Round of 32 vs. the Netherlands. Simply put, Bono is one of the globe’s best shot-stoppers.

Mbappe’s record taking penalties

Mbappe is an average penalty shooter. Per OptaJoe, the average effectiveness of penalty shooters is between 78% and 82%. Mbappe has taken 81 penalties (excluding shootouts), missing 16 and scoring 65. Hence, Mbappe has an 80.25% of effectiveness while shooting pens.

However, prior to this one saved by Bono, Mbappe was on a nine-scored-penalty streak. That includes one vs. Paraguay in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Mbappe is also looking at the Golden Boot of this World Cup, where he trails Messi by one goal.

This international profile is a major reason why Morocco has continued to establish itself as one of the strongest national teams in Africa. The squad combines world-class stars such as Achraf Hakimi and Brahim Diaz with experienced professionals playing across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.

The roster also highlights the depth of Moroccan talent worldwide. While many players have developed their careers in European academies and clubs, others remain important figures in domestic and regional soccer. This balance between internationally established stars and players competing in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and neighboring leagues has helped create a well-rounded squad capable of competing at the highest level.

In which countries do Morocco’s players compete?

France remains one of the most important bases for Morocco’s national team. Achraf Hakimi plays for Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and is one of the squad’s biggest stars. Samir El Mourabet and Gessime Yassine both represent Strasbourg, while Ayyoub Bouaddi plays for Lille.

Several Moroccan players compete in England, adding Premier League experience to the squad. Noussair Mazraoui represents Manchester United, Chadi Riad plays for Crystal Palace, Issa Diop competes for Fulham, and Chemsdine Talbi plays for Sunderland.

Spain is another key destination for Moroccan talent. Brahim Diaz plays for Real Madrid, while Abde Ezzalzouli represents Real Betis. Azzedine Ounahi also competes in Spain with Girona, further strengthening Morocco’s connection to La Liga.

Other countries for Morocco’s players

Belgium and the Netherlands continue to serve as important development pathways for Moroccan players. Zakaria El Ouahdi plays for Genk in Belgium, while Redouane Hahlal represents Mechelen. In the Netherlands, Ismael Saibari played for PSV Eindhoven, but he’s preparing for a massive move to Bayern Munich in Germany.

Morocco also has representation in several other major European leagues. Neil El Aynaoui and Anass Salah-Eddine play for Roma in Italy, Bilal El Khannouss competes for Stuttgart in Germany, and Ayoube Amaimouni represents Eintracht Frankfurt. Sofyan Amrabat plays for Fenerbahce in Turkiye. Ayoub El Kaabi plays for Olympiacos FC in Greece.

The squad also includes several players from the Middle East and North Africa. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, while Soufiane Rahimi represents Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates. Youssef Belammari competes for Al Ahly in Egypt and Marwane Saadane plays for Al Fateh in Saudi Arabia.

In Morocco itself, goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui plays for RS Berkane, and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti represents FAR Rabat, ensuring that the domestic league also contributes to the national team.

The decision is tactical and also influenced by Tchouaméni’s recent injury recovery. The Real Madrid midfielder has been dealing with a lingering groin/adductor muscle issue suffered during training on July 3, shortly after France’s Round of 32 win over Sweden.

The injury also kept him out of France’s 1-0 Round of 16 victory over Paraguay, and although he returned to partial team training this week, the coaching staff has opted not to risk him from the opening whistle. Another star who isn’t starting today for France is Bradley Barcola, benched due to a tactical decision.

Instead, France will rely on Manu Koné alongside Adrien Rabiot in central midfield as they attempt to secure a place in the semifinals. Tchouameni remains available from the bench and could still play a role if Deschamps decides to introduce him later in the match. A massive crowd is expected to turn out for France vs. Morocco today.

With several implications depending on whether France win, tie, or lose against Morocco today, Koné keeps his place after an encouraging performance against Paraguay, giving France continuity in midfield while preserving one of its most important players as a possible second‑half option, and today’s result will decide the first semifinalist of the 2026 World Cup.

France adjust their midfield for Morocco

With the uniforms for France vs. Morocco already decided, and with Tchouaméni out of the starting lineup, France continue with a double‑pivot featuring Koné and Rabiot, providing defensive balance behind an attacking trio led by Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembélé, and Désiré Doué.

Morocco arrive full of confidence after defeating Canada 3-0 in the Round of 16 and will look to exploit any weakness in midfield. They will be missing a key player in Ismael Saibari though, as the striker isn’t playing today due to injury. France, meanwhile, hope their tactical adjustment will be enough to reach another FIFA World Cup semifinal.