Morocco beats Netherlands on penalties to reach World Cup 2026 last‑16

Morocco advanced to the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 1‑1 draw with the Netherlands was settled by a penalty shoot‑out in Monterrey, Mexico. Dutch forward Cody Gakpo opened the scoring, two days after announcing the loss of his unborn child, but Issa Diop headed the equaliser for the North African side.

The match remained level through extra time. In the shoot‑out, Morocco prevailed when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the decisive penalty, sending the Lions of the Atlas to face Canada in Houston on 4 July. The game featured several notable saves by Dutch keeper Bart Verbruggen and highlighted Morocco’s solid defensive performance against the higher‑ranked Dutch side.