Morocco defeats – Morocco rode a 91st-minute equalizer from Issa Diop and a dramatic 3-2 penalty shootout win over the Netherlands on Monday, June 29. After a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes, the North Africans advanced and will face Canada in the World Cup Round of 16.
For a moment in Monterrey, Mexico, it looked as if the Netherlands’ lead would stand—until it didn’t.
Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead 1-0 in the 72nd minute, and the game seemed to settle into the kind of tense management that decides World Cup matches. Morocco had other ideas. Issa Diop rescued the team with a 91st-minute header, pulling the match level at 1-1 and pushing it into extra time.
Then came one of the wildest endings from the spot you can imagine. After the teams remained tied 1-1 through 120 minutes, Morocco won the penalty shootout 3-2 and advanced to the World Cup Round of 16. Their next opponent will be Canada.
The penalty sequence began with Gakpo’s team making the big early impact. Quinten Timber later missed for the Netherlands, dragging his shot low and wide of the left post. Achraf Hakimi then hit the post, leaving Morocco with a sliver of hope and the momentum still unsettled.
Morocco’s shooters kept landing when it mattered. Chemsdine Talbi scored in his first career penalty attempt, converting to the right to level the drama again. Wout Weghorst added a high finish to keep the Netherlands in front in the shootout at one stage. but Soufiane Rahimi then produced a goal that was barely there—scoring even though Bart Verbruggen appeared to have saved it. with the ball trickling in.
At the other end, there were near-misses and saves that turned the shootout into a test of nerve. Justin Kluivert hit the post after a stutter step. Neil El Aynaoui’s attempt crashed off the crossbar. Teun Koopmeiners placed a shot perfectly into the right corner for the Netherlands. and Crysencio Summerville’s effort was stopped when Bono swatted the ball away.
In the end, the decisive kick belonged to Ismael Saibari. Playing for PSV in the Netherlands, he won the shootout with a low shot to the left, sending Morocco through and turning what had looked like a match headed toward the final whistle into a penalty masterclass.
Morocco now moves on to face Canada in the round of 16.
Morocco Netherlands World Cup 2026 penalty shootout Issa Diop Cody Gakpo Canada round of 16 Monterrey Mexico