'Amazing' Yassine Bounou draws praise despite Morocco's loss to France

FOXBOROUGH, MA – For the second consecutive World Cup, Morocco exited the tournament in its knockout stages in a 2-0 defeat against France.

The result could have been significantly worse if not for a heroic performance in net from Yassine Bounou.

The 35-year-old keeper put together a tremendous performance to keep the Atlas Lions in a match that was largely dominated by Les Bleus.

“We were very happy that Yassine Bounou managed to save us a few times,” backup goalkeeper Munir El Kajoui said when asked about his teammate’s performance after the match.

Moroccan fans cheer for their team with a French flag in the background ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026.

Moroccan fans cheer for their team with a French flag in the background ahead of the 2026 World Cup football tournament quarter-final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough on July 9, 2026.

Kylian Mbappe of France warms up before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium on July 09, 2026 in Foxborough, Mass.

Indeed, Bounou was locked in from the start of the quarterfinal match. He was immediately tested in the match’s fourth minute when Dayot Upamecano, a 6-foot-1 center back, got his head on a well-placed cross and drove it on net.

Bounou tracked the shot well and knocked it away from net, preventing the early score and allowing Morocco to continue sitting most of their players behind the ball to try to take away space from a potent French attack.