Morocco defeats the Netherlands and continues its historic run

Morocco continued making history at the 2026 World Cup, booking their place in the Round of 16 after defeating the Netherlands on penalties (3–2), following a 1–1 draw after regular and extra time. The Atlas Lions now continue their campaign with a clash against Canada in the next round.

Morocco are once again asserting their place among the world’s top teams, after their historic run at the 2022 World Cup, when they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals.

The Moroccan squad includes several players born outside Morocco, particularly in the Netherlands, Spain, and Belgium, who chose to represent their country of origin. Their presence reflects the reach of the Moroccan diaspora in Europe and its role in strengthening the national team with talent, including Noussair Mazraoui, Zakaria Aboukhlal, and Ismael Saibari.