(FIFA) – Morocco booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 16 after edging past Netherlands in a highly dramatic penalty shootout on an emotional night for Cody Gakpo at Monterrey Stadium.
The Dutch forward opened the scoring, just two days after announcing the loss of his unborn son, before Morocco rallied to force extra time and prevail on spot kicks.
The Netherlands dominated the opening exchanges, but Morocco went closest to breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes, when Neil El Aynaoui’s header from Achraf Hakimi’s corner forced Bart Verbruggen into a stunning reaction stop. The Atlas Lions threatened again in first-half added time, but Ismael Saibari was unable to reach Hakimi’s teasing back-post cross.
Hakimi continued to prove a thorn in the Netherlands’ side as he raced up the right flank and rattled the upright early in the second half. The Morocco captain carved out another opportunity moments later, but Micky van de Ven raced back to make a superb recovery challenge.
Ronald Koeman sent on Teun Koopmeiners and Wout Weghorst in a bid to wrestle back the initiative. The changes had the desired effect as Weghorst won an aerial challenge to free Crysencio Summerville, who sent Gakpo through for an emphatic finish under the advancing Yassine Bounou.
The Oranje looked to have done enough until Morocco substitute Issa Diop rose highest to head home Chemsdine Talbi’s left-wing cross and force extra time.
Verbruggen produced a sensational point-blank save to deny Soufiane Rahimi as the clock ticked down. Bounou then became the hero in the shootout, saving from Summerville after both teams missed twice from the spot, before Saibari converted the decisive penalty to book a Round of 16 clash with World Cup co-hosts Canada in Houston on 4 July.