2026 World Cup/ Morocco edges Netherlands in penalty shootout to reach round of 16
Morocco advanced to the World Cup round of 16 after beating the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout Monday night. The match finished 1-1 after regular time.
Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s penalty attempt with his left hand. Ismael Saibari then stepped up and sent the decisive spot-kick into the low left corner as Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen dived the other way.
Cody Gakpo had given the Netherlands a 72nd-minute lead, assisted by Summerville. Gakpo broke down in tears after the goal.
He and his partner, Noa van der Bij, recently announced their unborn child had died.
Morocco’s Issa Diop equalised in the 91st minute, heading home a long cross from Chemsdine Talbi.
Soufiane Rahimi nearly won it for Morocco in extra time. His fancy footwork left him one-on-one with Verbruggen, but the Dutch goalkeeper deflected the shot away.
Neither team created another clear chance in 30 minutes of extra time at Estadio BBVA.
The shootout marked the tournament’s second penalty decision. Paraguay earlier beat Germany on spot-kicks to reach the round of 16.
Morocco and the Netherlands entered as the highest-ranked matchup in the round of 32, with FIFA rankings of sixth and seventh respectively.
Morocco, semifinalists in 2022, now face Canada on Saturday in Houston. The Netherlands exit at the earliest World Cup stage in their history.
