Didier Deschamps provides fitness update on Kylian Mbappe ahead of FIFA World Cup semifinal
14.07.2026
France coach Didier Deschamps has addressed concerns regarding Kylian Mbappe‘s fitness, confirming that the captain is anticipated to be available for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 semifinal match against Spain. Mbappe sustained a minor ankle injury during France’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Morocco, but the injury is not expected to prevent him from participating in the crucial fixture.
Deschamps offered reassurance to fans, stating that the France skipper was recovering well despite the knock. “Kylian is fine,” Deschamps commented. Mbappe did not complete France’s final training session after picking up the injury against Morocco. The forward, who was substituted late in the quarterfinal match, had his training workload reduced as a precautionary measure.
Explaining the decision to manage Mbappe’s training, Deschamps noted, “Yes, he trained. He is allowed to do 10 minutes in one drill instead of 15.” Despite being only partially involved in training, the injury is not anticipated to sideline him for the semifinal.
France prepares for Spain challenge
France is set to face a confident Spain side in the semifinals. Spain secured their spot in the final four after defeating Belgium 2-1 in their quarterfinal match. Spain has maintained an impressive unbeaten streak, not having lost in their last 36 matches, and will be aiming to extend this run by advancing to the World Cup final. The winner of this semifinal encounter will proceed to face either Argentina or England in the final on July 20.
France’s journey to the semifinals included their victory over Morocco, a team that had previously reached the semifinals in the last World Cup. In that previous tournament, Morocco was also eliminated by France. This time, in the quarterfinal match held in Boston, France secured a 2-0 win against Morocco.
Morocco’s World Cup performance and future outlook
Despite their elimination by France, Morocco’s performance at the expanded 48-team tournament has been considered a success. They made history by becoming the first African nation to reach successive quarterfinals. On their path to the quarterfinals, Morocco eliminated the Netherlands and posed a challenge to Brazil in their opening game of the finals, which were held in Canada, Mexico, and the US.
There had been some initial uncertainties about Morocco’s prospects, particularly given a coaching change just three months before the finals. However, Mohamed Ouahbi transitioned smoothly into the senior coach role from the junior ranks, having previously led Morocco to the U-20 World Cup title last year.
Following their elimination, Morocco will now shift their focus to the next World Cup, where they will have a significant role. Morocco is set to co-host the 2030 finals alongside Portugal and Spain, which means they are already qualified for the tournament. Ouahbi expressed optimism about the team’s future, stating after Thursday’s game, “We have a young team who want to grow, who will continue to do so. We have talented players who will enable us to grow.”
It is generally expected that Morocco will retain Ouahbi as coach, providing him with the opportunity to further develop his squad, with the ultimate goal of winning the next World Cup. Before the 2030 World Cup, Ouahbi will lead the team through two Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2027 and 2028. He is aware of the unpredictable nature of coaching in Africa, where failure in tournaments can often lead to changes in leadership.
Ouahbi’s predecessor, Walid Regragui, faced criticism from Morocco fans after the team failed to win the Cup of Nations final against Senegal in Rabat in January. Ouahbi emphasised the immediate goals for the team, stating, “We need to first qualify for the Cup of Nations and to win it. We need to take a step back and to see to it that we have a team that can make and generate dreams in the future. And win titles to ensure we’re on the right track.”
Morocco’s record in the Cup of Nations has been challenging, despite their high ranking on the continent. They had won a single African championship in 1976 before being awarded the 2025 title after Senegal was stripped of the trophy for walking off during the final. This decision is currently under appeal and could potentially be reversed.
Morocco’s next competitive matches will be in September when the Cup of Nations qualifiers commence. They are grouped with Gabon, Lesotho, and Niger, which appears to be a manageable assignment. However, for any aspirations of success in the 2030 World Cup, the team will require a more challenging schedule of opponents to refine their capabilities. Ouahbi highlighted the differences between competitions, remarking, “Of course, the Cup of Nations is not the World Cup. This is a different type of competition, with opponents that have different styles of play.” He further added, “So, when you’re not used to playing these types of styles, when you’re not prepared for a World Cup, you can get eliminated very quickly.”
The semifinal match between France and Spain is scheduled to determine one of the finalists for the World Cup on July 20.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.