Mbappe Misses Penalty After Lengthy Delay in World Cup 2026 Quarterfinal

In 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 following a strong run and a foul by Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui. However, before taking the shot, Mbappe waited over three minutes due to a VAR review, which commentators criticized as an excessive and unfair delay.

French commentator Henry Winter condemned the long wait, saying it was "not fair" to make Mbappe wait so long and that the delay affected his concentration. Winter described the VAR check as "ridiculous," especially since the foul was clear. Meanwhile, BBC analyst John Bennett criticized Mbappe's penalty execution, calling it "horrible" and suggesting Mbappe overthought the shot against Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who saved it.

French sports outlet L'Equipe lamented the missed opportunity, calling it a "significant moment in the tournament" that could impact France's chances of advancing. The match remains scoreless as both teams continue to compete in this high-stakes quarterfinal encounter.

Summary: Kylian Mbappe missed a penalty after a prolonged VAR delay in the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco, drawing criticism for the wait and the shot itself, leaving the game tied at 0-0.