Morocco reaches the last 16 of the World Cup with an impressive victory over the Netherlands | World Cup 2026 news

Morocco comes from behind to knock out the Netherlands in the round of 32, beating them 3-2 on penalties.

Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalties to advance to the last 16 FIFA World Cup Monday after an exciting battle in Monterrey ended 1-1 following extra time.

Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a crucial save to keep out the Netherlands’ fourth penalty from Crysencio Summerville, before striker Ismael Saibari stepped up to fire home a 3-2 win.

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The victory sends Morocco to the last 16 and Canada in Houston on Saturday.

The thrilling game went to extra time after Issa Diop headed home Morocco’s stunning equalizer in the first minute of stoppage time as the Netherlands sealed victory.

The Dutch took the lead midway through the second half with a goal from Cody Gakpo, playing just days after his teammate confirmed the death of the couple’s unborn child.

Liverpool midfielder Gakpo collapsed on the pitch and appeared emotional as his teammates surrounded him in the crowd for a long hug.

But Morocco forced extra time when the unknown Diop came on as a substitute for Chemsdine Talbi in injury time.

Morocco created the better chances of the match, which saw players from both sides flying to test the patience of Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio.

The Atlas Lions almost took the lead in the 20th minute when Neil El Aynaoui’s header from Achraf Hakimi’s corner was denied by a superb save from Netherlands midfielder Bart Verbruggen.

Verbruggen was forced into action in the second half, this time doing well to fight off a vicious fight from Hakimi on the bar.

The intensity of the contest was evident at half-time, when Saibari had a chance to escape a penalty after elbowing Jan Paul van Hecke in the face.

The Dutch continued to enjoy many possessions but were unable to convert them into scoring opportunities.

Their best effort came in the 44th minute, when Tottenham’s Micky van de Ven fired a shot from the edge of the area that Bounou fired home.

Van Hecke continued to find himself in danger, and after bleeding from his head in a collision in the penalty area, he made his presence felt with a challenge that lifted El Aynaoui just before half-time.

At the end of the half, Saibari just failed to connect the ball that went through the Dutch goal before going in behind.

The game continued in the second half of the final, but it appeared to be in the Netherlands’ favor when coach Ronald Koeman brought on Wout Weghorst in a wide range of positions after the break.

Weghorst made an immediate impact, hitting a long ball to send Summerville through on goal. Summerville crossed to Gakpo, who threw himself on the ball to see.

The Netherlands, heavily hampered by Gakpo’s Liverpool teammate Virgil van Dijk, looked set to win, but Diop’s late header sent extra time.

Morocco looked set to win when Soufiane Rahimi crossed on goal in the 96th minute, but was denied by Verbruggen’s chin save.

The Netherlands still had penalties, but despite Morocco’s first miss after El-Aynaoui’s strike, the North Africans recovered to win.