​Defender Achraf Hakimi and Morocco will face Canada in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup on Saturday in Houston after a dramatic 3-2 penalties win over the Netherlands following a stoppage-time equalizer. With their victory Monday in Guadalupe, Mexico, the No. 6 Moroccan side earned the matchup against co-host No. 30 Canada. The team’s win sparked messages from supporters back home; defender Issa Diop, who scored Morocco’s 91st-minute equalizer, said the nation’s people are behind them and that they are playing not just for themselves but for everyone watching.
Morocco dominated possession and outpaced the Dutch, leading in shots (11-6), shots on target (5), possession (70% to 30%), and accurate passes (801 to 292). The Dutch struck first when Cody Gakpo finished a sequence started by Bart Verbruggen’s long kickoff, with Gakpo beating Yassine Bounou in the 72nd minute. Diop’s late equalizer, assisted by Chemsdine Talbi, came after a dribble into Dutch territory and a cross to the far post that Diop headed in from about six yards out, sending the game to extra time.
No goals were scored in extra time, forcing a penalty shootout that sent Morocco through to the knockout stage for the second time in World Cup history. Teun Koopmeiners opened the Dutch scoring in the shootout, but Neil El Aynaoui hit the crossbar for Morocco, and Justin Kluivert hit the post for the Netherlands. Soufiane Rahimi for Morocco and Weghorst for the Netherlands traded makes in the subsequent rounds before Hakimi and Timber both missed in the fourth round. Yassine Bounou saved Summerville’s final attempt, and Ismael Sailbari sealed the victory by finding the net in the final penalty, directing the ball to the left as Verbruggen dove the other way.
“It was a big, big match, a great match,” said Moroccan left back Noussair Mazraoui. “That we won here is like the feeling that we won the final. It’s a huge accomplishment for the team.” The Moroccan squad continues their World Cup journey with a Saturday clash in Houston against Canada.