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| Ismael Saibari of Morocco celebrates scoring the team's fifth and winning penalty during the shootout against Netherlands at Monterrey Stadium on Monday Photos: Carl Recine/Getty Images |
~Story Courtesy CNN
Morocco produced a dramatic comeback to beat the Netherlands on penalties in an unforgettable Round of 32 clash in Monterrey on Monday, June 29, 2026.
After falling behind early, the North African side grew into the game and eventually forced the shootout, where they held their nerve to advance.
For large spells in the opening stages Morocco controlled possession and created the clearer opportunities. Paris Saint-Germain fullback Achraf Hakimi was a constant threat down the right flank, repeatedly testing the Dutch defence with dangerous runs and incisive delivery.
His influence helped shift momentum as Morocco pressed for an equalizer and then pushed on until the end.
In the first half, Hakimi hit a solid shot that was pushed over the bar by Bart Verbruggen and then had perhaps the best chance of the first 50-ish minutes when he powered a shot past Verbuggen from a tight angle, sending the ball off the bar.
The game was mostly notable for its physicality as referee Wilton Pereira Sampaio allowed both teams to batter each other, with blood flowing and shirts ripping. Morocco held most of the possession and the best chances, with the Dutch only managing one shot on goal in the first hour of the match.
Still there were no goals as Morocco let multiple chances go wanting and the Dutch failed to look truly dangerous in the final third.
The first goal came in a true counterattack against the run of play in the 72nd minute as the Dutch broke down field after Verbuggen cleared the ball to Wout Weghorst, who had just entered the game as a substitute.
The ball went into the path of Crysencio Summerville, who made a driving run to get onto the header. A tackle from the Moroccan defense brought Summerville down but the ball fell into the path of Cody Gakpo, who finished with aplomb.
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| Cody Gakpo falls to his knees as he celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Morocco at Monterrey Stadium on Monday. |
The emotions of the moment overwhelmed Gakpo, who immediately broke into tears. Gakpo announced before the game that his wife had suffered a miscarriage during the World Cup. All the Dutch players ran onto the field to celebrate with the Liverpool star, who came away from the pile with tears in his eyes.
Morocco pushed for an equalizer as time began to run out and eventually found it just as the match was about to enter injury time. Defender Issa Diop’s header finally beat Verbuggen, coming on a whipped in cross from Chemsdine Talbi, sparking wild celebrations from the Moroccan fans behind the net.
The goal ensured the game ran into extra time, the second match of the day to go to the extra 30 minutes, even though both teams pushed for a winner in the final minutes of regulation.
The extra period started off with Verbuggen making one of the saves of the tournament, as Soufiane Rahimi was in on goal alone. He fired a shot and Verbuggen stretched his right hand and right leg as far as they could go, just getting a hand on the shot and the ball went harmlessly wide.
It was the only major chance of the extra time period as both teams seemed content to settle for penalties.
Teun Koopmeiners walked up for the Dutch and buried the first penalty and then Neil El Aynaoui nailed the bar for Morocco, putting the African champions behind. Justin Kluivert then hit the post for The Netherlands, immediately giving away the advantage.
Rahimi was next for Morocco, appearing to have his penalty saved by Verbruggen before the Dutch keeper accidentally knocked it back into his own goal to make it 1-1.
Weghorst stepped up next and slammed his penalty into the top corner and Chemsdine Talbi answered for Morocco to make it 2-2.
Quinten Timber then pulled his penalty wide for the Dutch, handing an opening to the Atlas Lions, but Morocco couldn’t take advantage when Hakimi also hit the post.
Summerville stepped up to take the fifth penalty for the Dutch and blasted it right at Morocco keeper Yassine Bounou, who knocked it away with an outstretched hand. That allowed Ismael Saibari to take the penalty that would win the match for Morocco.
He put it in the bottom left corner, sending his team through to the Round of 16 and a showdown with Canada on July 4.
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