2026 World Cup: Penalty Shootout Proves Fatal for the Netherlands, Too; Morocco Advances to the Round of 16

Ouahbi’s Morocco continues to amaze and can no longer be considered just a surprise. The Atlas Lions have advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup by defeating the Netherlands in a penalty shootout at the end of an intense and hard-fought match. Now Canada awaits them.

The decisive moment came when Saibari converted his penalty, bringing an end to a penalty shootout full of twists and turns. For the Oranje, mistakes by Kluivert (hit the post), Timber (shot wide), and Summerville (stunned by Bono) proved fatal, while Morocco managed to prevail despite El Aynaoui hitting the crossbar and Hakimi hitting the post.

The North Africans’ qualification is well deserved. Even after the Dutch took the lead through Gakpo in the 72nd minute, Morocco never stopped believing in a comeback. The Dutch forward, visibly moved and later in tears, had dedicated the goal to the child his partner lost during pregnancy. Despite falling behind, Ouahbi’s team kept pushing until they found the equalizer in stoppage time: in the 91st minute, Diop made it 1-1 with a precise header.

The score remained tied through extra time and for most of the penalty shootout. Saibari, who had already scored three goals in the group stage, broke the deadlock once again by converting the decisive penalty, securing Morocco’s advancement to the next round.

For the Netherlands, this marks yet another disappointment in a penalty shootout, as happened in the 2014 and 2022 World Cups, when Argentina eliminated them. Morocco, on the other hand, continues to build on its progress following its historic semifinal appearance four years ago and advances in the tournament, with Canada as its next opponent in the Round of 16.