Mbappe Misses Penalty After Lengthy Delay in World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal

During the 28th minute of the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal match between France and Morocco, Kylian Mbappe missed a crucial penalty that left the score tied at 0-0. Mbappe earned the penalty after an impressive run and a foul by Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui. However, before taking the shot, a VAR review caused a delay of over three minutes, forcing Mbappe to wait and reset mentally. When he finally took the penalty, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved it.

Commentators criticized the lengthy delay before the penalty kick. Henry Winter condemned the wait, calling it unfair to Mbappe and saying the prolonged tension affected his focus. Winter described the VAR check as ridiculous given the clear foul. Conversely, BBC analyst John Bennett criticized Mbappe's penalty technique, saying it was poor and that the player likely overthought the shot. French outlet L'Equipe lamented the missed opportunity, noting it was a pivotal moment that could influence France's tournament fate, praising the quality of play but highlighting a lack of efficiency.

The incident has sparked debate about the impact of VAR delays on players' performance and the fairness of such interruptions during critical moments in high-stakes matches.