Morocco’s Ismael Saibari scores a profitable penalty within the shootout as Morocco defeat the Netherlands to qualify for the Spherical of 16 of the Ffia World Cup at Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, June 29, 2026. — Reuters
Morocco beat the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties on Monday to achieve the World Cup final 16 after their Spherical of 32 tie ended 1-1 following further time, organising a gathering with co-hosts Canada.
Ismael Saibari transformed the profitable spot kick after Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty, sending Morocco via after a dramatic contest through which that they had pressured further time with a stoppage-time equaliser.
Morocco’s Neil El Aynaoui and Dutch substitute Justin Kluivert missed their makes an attempt earlier than Bart Verbruggen appeared to save lots of Soufiane Rahimi’s effort, just for the ball to squirm beneath him and trickle over the road.
Netherlands’ Crysencio Summerville misses a penalty throughout the shootout as Morocco defeat the Netherlands to qualify for the Spherical of 16 of the Fifa World Cup at Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, June 29, 2026. — Reuters
Quinten Timber then put the ball extensive with the Dutch facet’s fourth kick, Achraf Hakimi struck the submit with the possibility to seal victory earlier than Saibari saved his nerve to ship Morocco via.
The shootout capped a gripping encounter in Monterrey that swung repeatedly in each groups’ favour, with Cody Gakpo’s emotional second-half opener cancelled out by Issa Diop’s stoppage-time header earlier than neither workforce may discover a winner in further time.
Morocco long-established the higher probabilities earlier than the break, with goalkeeper Verbruggen producing a sequence of excellent saves to disclaim Ayoub Bouaddi’s close-range header and Neil El Aynaoui’s highly effective effort.
On the different finish, Bounou was lastly known as into motion to parry Micky van de Ven’s long-range strike.
Morocco gamers have a good time after defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to qualify for the Spherical of 16 of the Fifa World Cup at Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, June 29, 2026. — Reuters
Hakimi rattled the crossbar and compelled one other save from Verbruggen because the Dutch struggled to include the complete again’s runs from deep earlier than Ronald Koeman’s introduction of Wout Weghorst gave his facet a much-needed focus in assault.
Emotional opener
The substitute’s influence was rapid as he gained a flick-on that launched Summerville, whose persistence created the opening for Gakpo to brush a first-time end past Bounou within the 72nd minute.
Enjoying days after he and his companion misplaced their unborn son throughout being pregnant, Gakpo broke down in tears as teammates rushed to embrace him.
The Netherlands appeared more and more comfy, with captain Virgil van Dijk producing an important intervention to disclaim Saibari as Morocco threw numbers ahead looking for an equaliser.
Netherlands gamers look dejected after the workforce’s elimination following a penalty shootout defeat to Morocco within the Spherical of 32 of the Fifa World Cup at Estadio Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico, June 29, 2026. — Reuters
However simply because the Dutch appeared set to see out the victory, substitute Chemsdine Talbi delivered a pinpoint cross from the left and Diop rose above Van Dijk to energy a stoppage-time header past Verbruggen, sending the match into further time.
Momentum swung from finish to finish, with the Netherlands threatening on the counter as Morocco chased the sport, however couldn’t make their strain rely in open play.
Having weathered Gakpo’s emotional opener and survived Hakimi’s missed probability to settle the shootout, Morocco held their nerve when it mattered most to maintain their World Cup dream alive and ebook a date with Canada in Houston on Saturday.
