30/06/2026 03:17 - Deportes
Morocco proved once again that penalties are their specialty at the World Cup. After a dramatic 1-1 draw through 120 minutes in the Round of 32 match at the 2026 World Cup, the African side triumphed 3-2 in the penalty shootout to book their place in the Round of 16, where they will face Canada.
What followed was a penalty series that will be discussed for years. With goalposts struck, crossbars rattled, saves made, and dramatic goals, the shootout between Morocco and the Netherlands delivered a unique spectacle that capped off the final match of the Round of 32.
The series began with Teun Koopmeiners converting calmly for the Netherlands. Morocco's response saw Neil El Aynaoui attempt an ambitious high strike that crashed against the crossbar and went over.
Then came Justin Kluivert's turn. The Dutch forward tried to deceive goalkeeper Bounou with a stuttered run-up only to hit the right post. Soufiane Rahimi attempted something similar—goalkeeper Verbruggen got a hand to it, but the Moroccan striker poked it in with his heel for the equalizer.
Wout Weghorst and Chemsdine Talbi both converted their kicks, but Quinten Timber missed by a considerable margin. Then Hakimi, who had his moment of glory in Qatar 2022, also failed by smashing his shot against the post.
Canada vs Morocco
With the fifth penalty of the series, Crysencio Summerville aimed for the goalkeeper's right side with what looked like an unstoppable high shot. But Bounou, Morocco's shot-stopper, read his intentions perfectly. He stayed tall and made a crucial save with his raised hand—a technique he had threatened to use earlier and finally executed to perfection.
Ismael Saibari sealed Morocco's victory with the final kick, sparking wild celebrations while the Netherlands were left to contemplate another World Cup heartbreak.
The Netherlands have now matched Spain as the national team with the most penalty shootout defeats in World Cup history—four times. The Dutch have fallen this way in:
Paradoxically, the Netherlands remain unbeaten in regular time for 20 years at World Cups. Their last regulation defeat was in the 2006 Round of 16 against Portugal (0-1). Since then, they lost the 2010 final in extra time, and in 2014, 2022, and 2026, only penalty shootouts ended their campaigns.
The African side seems to have a special connection with penalty shootouts. At Qatar 2022, Morocco eliminated Spain in the Round of 16 via penalties, featuring Hakimi's famous Panenka-style chip that went viral worldwide.
Now at the 2026 World Cup, they've repeated the formula: draw against a European side, then prevail from the spot. Goalkeeper Bounou was once again the hero, making the decisive save that allowed Saibari to seal the victory.
| Order | Player | Country | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Teun Koopmeiners | Netherlands | ⚽ Goal |
| 2 | Neil El Aynaoui | Morocco | ❌ Crossbar |
| 3 | Justin Kluivert | Netherlands | ❌ Post |
| 4 | Soufiane Rahimi | Morocco | ⚽ Goal (heel) |
| 5 | Wout Weghorst | Netherlands | ⚽ Goal |
| 6 | Chemsdine Talbi | Morocco | ⚽ Goal |
| 7 | Quinten Timber | Netherlands | ❌ Missed |
| 8 | Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | ❌ Post |
| 9 | Crysencio Summerville | Netherlands | ❌ Saved |
| 10 | Ismael Saibari | Morocco | ⚽ Winner |
Morocco now has a confirmed opponent in the Round of 16: Canada, who made history by reaching this stage for the first time ever after defeating South Africa 1-0 on a Stephen Eustáquio goal in stoppage time.
The Canada vs Morocco match is set for Saturday, July 4, 2026 at Houston Stadium in Texas, United States.
Sources: CNN en Español | TyC Sports
Alfredo S. Quiroga
