​As Morocco readies itself to face France in a World Cup quarterfinal at Boston Stadium (Gillette Stadium) on Thursday, July 9, in a rematch of the 2022 semi-final, what should be a highly competitive and hard-fought clash between two of the world’s best teams carries an unfortunate and troubling distinction. For the second time in seven World Cup matches in Foxboro, a player will contend with a national team from a country where he currently faces rape charges. Atlas Lions captain and defender Achraf Hakimi, who plies his trade for Paris Saint-Germain, a Ligue 1 powerhouse and two-time Champions League winner, is set to stand trial in France on a rape accusation stemming from an alleged incident in 2023. Hakimi, who is 27, vehemently denies the allegations and has expressed his readiness to confront the case in court.
As kickoff approaches, and with Hakimi and Morocco returning to Boston Stadium for a second summer match, here is what you need to know about the Moroccan captain and the legal matters surrounding him. Hakimi was born in Madrid and raised in the neighboring suburb of Getafe to Moroccan parents, a background that reflects the cross-cultural journey that marked his rise. He demonstrated prodigious talent from a young age, signing with Club Deportivo Colonia Ofigevi at eight years old before moving to Real Madrid’s famed academy a year later. While he began as a winger, his emerging speed and attacking instincts soon positioned him as a more offensively minded right wing-back during his time in Los Blancos’ youth ranks.
Hakimi’s senior Real Madrid debut came in a friendly against PSG at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, on July 27, 2016. After progressing through Real Madrid Castilla, he made nine appearances for the first team, contributing two goals and earning his first Champions League winners’ medal as Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 3-1 in the 2017-18 final at the NSC Olimpiyskiy in Kyiv, Ukraine. His career subsequently took him on loan to Borussia Dortmund for the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, where he tallied seven goals in 54 appearances. He then joined Inter Milan, recording seven goals in 37 appearances in his single season with the Italian giants before moving to Paris Saint-Germain. At PSG, Hakimi quickly established himself as a crucial figure, helping the club secure five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Champions League titles—the first time a French club has achieved that feat—across the past two seasons.
Hakimi made his Morocco senior international debut on October 11, 2016, against Canada, coming on as a substitute. Since then, he has earned 101 caps and scored 12 goals, representing the Atlas Lions at the 2018, 2022, and 2026 World Cups. He also played a pivotal role in guiding Morocco to the controversial but historic 2025 Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil. Additionally, Hakimi contributed to Morocco’s Olympic squad, delivering a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games.