Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout, defeating the Netherlands in the round of 32.
Published June 30, 2026
The thrilling battle in Monterrey ended 1-1 after extra time, with Morocco defeating the Netherlands on penalties and advancing to the last 16 of the FIFA World Cup.
Moroccan goalkeeper Yassin Bounou made a decisive save to deny the Netherlands’ fourth penalty by Chrisencio Somerville, before striker Ismael Saibari fired the winning kick to seal Monday’s 3-2 penalty shootout victory.
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With the win, Morocco will now face Canada in the last 16 in Houston on Saturday.
The frenetic match went into extra time after Issa Diop scored a dramatic equalizer for Morocco in the first minute of stoppage time as the Netherlands moved closer to victory.
The Dutch took the lead midway through the second half with a goal from Kodi Gakpo, who played days after his partner confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn child.
Liverpool forward Gakpo slumped on the grass, looking overcome with emotion as his team-mates surrounded him in a long hug.
However, in stoppage time, Morocco’s substitute Kemzuddin Talbi’s cross was headed in by the free Diop, forcing extra time.
Morocco created the better chances in an intense encounter that saw players from both teams diving into tackles and testing the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.
Atlas Lions scored in the 20th minute when Neil El Ainaoui glanced close to Achraf Hakimi’s corner goal, but was denied by a superbly reflexive save from Dutch goalkeeper Bert Verbruggen.
Verbruggen was forced into action shortly after, and this time he did well, sending Hakimi’s powerful shot over the bar.
The ferocious nature of the match was on full display midway through the first half, with Saibari elbowing Jan Paul van Hecke in the face, but luckily avoiding sanction.
The Netherlands continued to enjoy plenty of possession, but were unable to convert it into goal opportunities.
The best attempt came in the 44th minute, when Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven fired a powerful shot from the edge of the area that was tipped over by Benou.
Van Hecke remained at the center of the game, making his presence known with a ferocious tackle that tipped El Ainaoui just before half-time after a collision inside the penalty area left him with a bloody head.
Toward the end of the first half, Saibari was unable to connect with a cross and it flew into the Dutch goal, resulting in the game being reversed.
The drama continued until the second half, but it appeared to be tilted in the Netherlands’ favor when manager Ronald Koeman brought on forward Wout Weghorst in a flurry of substitutions after a water break.
Weghorst made an immediate impact, flicking in a long ball that put Somerville close to scoring. Somerville delivered a cross to Gakpo, who rammed his body into the ball and scored.
The Netherlands looked on their way to victory, under the excellent command of Gakpo’s Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk, but Diop’s late header sent the game into extra time.
Morocco looked to have made a breakthrough in the 96th minute with Sufian Rahimi’s goal, but Verbruggen made an incredible save.
The Netherlands held out on penalties, but the North Africans rallied to win despite Morocco missing their first shot when El Ainaoui hit the bar.
