Netherlands Knocked Out, Morocco Wins 3-2 on Penalties
The Moroccan national team secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 after eliminating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout drama in the round of 32 at Estadio Monterrey, Mexico, on Tuesday (6/30/2026). The Atlas Lions won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. The victory sends Morocco through to the next phase, where they will face Canada in the battle for a quarterfinal ticket.
From the opening whistle, Morocco looked more dominant and created several dangerous chances through Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi, but they were denied by Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen. The Netherlands actually took the lead first in the 72nd minute through a goal by Cody Gakpo. Morocco equalized in the 90+1 minute with a header from Issa Diop, forcing the match into extra time.
In extra time, Morocco remained aggressive but the 1-1 score held until the 120th minute. In the penalty shootout, Morocco emerged victorious after three Dutch penalty takers failed, while Ismael Saibari was the final kicker who sealed the 3-2 win for the Atlas Lions, ending the Netherlands' journey in the 2026 World Cup.
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