Morocco defeated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout to advance to the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA North America World Cup.
On June 30, at 10 a.m. KST, Morocco faced the Netherlands at Estadio Monterrey in Guadalupe, Mexico. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, with Morocco winning 3-2 in the penalty shootout.
The first half ended without any goals. Both teams started aggressively but failed to find the net. Netherlands goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen and Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou each made crucial saves, maintaining a 0-0 scoreline.
The Netherlands scored first, with Cody Gakpo finding the back of the net in the 72nd minute, giving them a 1-0 lead.
Morocco equalized in stoppage time. Issa Diop scored with a header in the first minute of added time, bringing the score to 1-1.
With no winner determined in regulation, the match proceeded to extra time, where no additional goals were scored, leading to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Morocco triumphed, defeating the Netherlands 3-2 to secure their place in the Round of 16.
With this victory, Morocco continues its strong performance on the World Cup stage, following their semifinal run in the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Meanwhile, the Netherlands, despite advancing from the group stage, was eliminated in the Round of 32.
Morocco will face Canada in the Round of 16. Canada previously secured their spot by defeating South Africa 1-0.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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