Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw through extra time in the 2026 World Cup round of 32. It was the earliest World Cup exit in the Netherlands’ history, and Ismael Saibari scored the winning kick.
Key Facts
- Date and venue: June 29, 2026, Estadio BBVA, Guadalupe, near Monterrey.
- Goals: Cody Gakpo (72′) for the Netherlands, Issa Diop (91′) for Morocco.
- Shootout: Morocco won 3-2, with Yassine Bounou saving from Crysencio Summerville and Saibari scoring the winner.
- Morocco (ranked 6th) against the Netherlands (7th) was the highest combined ranking of any round of 32 match.
How the Match Unfolded
Gakpo gave the Netherlands the lead in the 72nd minute, with Summerville providing the assist. Morocco equalised in the 91st minute when Diop headed in a looping cross from Chemsdine Talbi. Neither side created a strong chance in 30 minutes of extra time, and the match went to penalties.
The Shootout
The shootout was level at 2-2 after four rounds. Bounou batted away Summerville’s attempt with his left hand, and Saibari scored the winning kick into the low left corner as Bart Verbruggen dived the other way. Soufiane Rahimi’s kick, taken while Morocco trailed, went in off Verbruggen’s leg after the goalkeeper failed to hold it. Justin Kluivert, a second-half substitute, missed his penalty, and three Dutch players missed in all.
What It Means
The Netherlands had reached at least the round of 16 in 11 previous World Cups, including the 2022 quarter-final, and this was their third straight World Cup elimination by penalty shootout. It was the second round of 32 game decided by a shootout that day, after Paraguay’s win over Germany.
Morocco, coached by Mohamed Ouahbi, who was appointed in March, went on to beat Canada 3-0 in the round of 16 in Houston before losing 2-0 to France in the quarter-finals. In 2022 they had become the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. Read about another African debut in Cape Verde’s historic run, and see our 2030 outlook for how Morocco could fare as a co-host.
Sources: AP via KSL, Wikipedia: 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage.