Morocco Stages Comeback to Defeat Haiti 4-2 and Reach World Cup Knockout Stage

Report: Imran Sohail

Morocco secured a place in the FIFA World Cup knockout rounds after rallying from behind twice to earn a 4-2 victory over Haiti in their final Group C match on Wednesday.

The North African side showed resilience throughout the contest, overcoming a determined Haiti team that was seeking its first-ever point at the World Cup.

Haiti made a strong start and took an early lead, putting pressure on Morocco. However, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations champions responded well and stayed in contention throughout the match.

Substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine played key roles in the comeback. Rahimi scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute, while Yassine added another late strike to secure the victory.

The win helped Morocco finish second in Group C behind Brazil and advance to the Round of 32. Morocco will now face the runner-up from Group F in the next stage of the tournament.

Midfielder Bilal El Khannouss acknowledged that his team faced difficulties during the match but praised their improved performance after halftime.

Morocco continues its strong presence on the international stage after becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal in 2022. The team will now look to build on that success as it prepares for the knockout rounds.

Despite the defeat, Haiti delivered an encouraging performance and challenged one of Africa’s top teams in an entertaining contest.