France captain Kylian Mbappe has disclosed that the controvery surrounding a VAR review caused him to lose concentration before missing a first-half penalty in his side’s 2-0 victory over Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Mbappe was handed the opportunity to put France ahead after he was brought down inside the penalty area by Morocco defender Noussair Mazraoui.
However, following a lengthy VAR check, the French star saw his spot-kick comfortably saved by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, leaving the score goalless. 
Despite the early setback, Mbappe responded in style after the break. In the 60th minute, he curled a superb strike into the net to give Les Bleus the breakthrough, before Ousmane Dembele doubled France’s advantage six minutes later to seal their place in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on his missed penalty after the match, Mbappe admitted that the uncertainty surrounding the decision disrupted his mental preparation.
“I took the penalty badly, but it was a difficult situation because there was confusion,” he said.
“The referee first told me it was a penalty, so I started preparing to take it. Then he came back and said it might not be a penalty.
“I lost my focus. I’ve never experienced a situation like that before.”
Although Mbappe failed to convert from the spot, his second-half goal helped France overcome Morocco and continue their quest for another World Cup title. His comments highlighted the psychological impact that prolonged VAR reviews and uncertainty can have on players, even in the biggest moments of a match.
