Morocco Beat Netherlands on Penalties to Reach FIFA World Cup Round of 16
Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail
Morocco secured a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout following a dramatic 1-1 draw in their Round of 32 clash at Monterrey Stadium.
The Atlas Lions completed a remarkable comeback before holding their nerve from the penalty spot to advance to the next stage of the tournament.
The Netherlands took the lead in the 72nd minute through Cody Gakpo. The forward finished a quick counterattack with a composed strike after receiving a well-timed pass from Crysencio Summerville.
Morocco continued to push for an equalizer and came close earlier in the second half when Achraf Hakimi’s powerful effort struck the crossbar.
Their persistence paid off in stoppage time as defender Issa Diop rose highest to head the ball into the net in the first minute of added time, sending the match into extra time.
Neither team managed to find a winning goal during the additional 30 minutes, meaning the contest was decided by a penalty shootout.
Morocco remained composed under pressure, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive penalty to seal a memorable victory and send the Atlas Lions into the Round of 16.
The result marks another significant achievement for Morocco, who continue their impressive run on the world stage after eliminating one of Europe’s strongest sides.
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the Round of 16 in Houston as they aim to continue their FIFA World Cup 2026 journey.
