2026 FIFA World Cup | Round of 32 | Tuesday June 30
- Netherlands(2) 1-1 (3)Morocco
Morocco kept their FIFA World Cup dream alive with a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands in Monterrey, sealing a place in the Round of 16 after a pulsating 1-1 draw stretched into extra time.
The Atlas Lions won 3-2 on penalties, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again emerging as the hero. Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s spot-kick before Ismael Saibari confidently converted the decisive penalty to send Morocco through to a last-16 clash with Canada in Houston on Saturday.
Morocco had created the better chances for much of the contest but looked destined for heartbreak when the Netherlands took the lead in the 72nd minute. Substitute Wout Weghorst helped create the opening, with Summerville providing the cross for Cody Gakpo to dive in and score. The Liverpool forward was visibly emotional after finding the net, days after the loss of his unborn son.
Just as the Dutch seemed set for victory, Morocco struck in stoppage time. Substitute Chemsdine Talbi delivered a cross that found Issa Diop, whose header in the first minute of added time forced extra time and sparked celebrations among the Moroccan fans.
The Atlas Lions nearly completed the comeback in extra time, but Bart Verbruggen produced a brilliant one-on-one save to deny Soufiane Rahimi.
Penalties were needed to separate the two sides and the shootout mirrored the tension of the match, with five of the 10 kicks either missed or saved. After Morocco recovered from an early miss by Neil El Aynaoui, Bounou’s crucial stop from Summerville handed the North Africans the advantage before Saibari sealed a famous victory.
The defeat ended the Netherlands’ World Cup campaign and left head coach Ronald Koeman considering his future after another painful tournament exit.
