There is something about Morocco and penalty shootouts that feels almost predestined now. Four years on from their extraordinary run to the semi-finals in Qatar, Walid Regragui's side are back in the last 16 of a World Cup after seeing off the Netherlands in one of the more chaotic shootouts you are likely to witness — both teams missing twice before Yassine Bounou stretched to his left and batted away Crysencio Summerville's effort, leaving Ismael Saibari to stroke home the winning penalty and send the red shirts into raptures inside Monterrey Stadium.

It was a result that felt deserved across the full stretch of nearly three hours of football, even if it took a late header from centre-back Issa Diop to force extra time and deny the Netherlands what would have been a deeply fortunate victory. Ronald Koeman had arrived in Monterrey with a plan to stifle, ditching his customary 4-3-3 and deploying three centre-backs while leaving Tijjani Reijnders on the bench. The intent was clearly to be compact and deny Morocco the space their quick, intricate patterns thrive on — and for long stretches it worked, even if it made for uncomfortable watching.

The heat had softened a little by kick-off — 31 degrees Celsius with strong gusts rolling off the mountains — but the atmosphere inside the ground was anything but mild. The local crowd, a patchwork of green Mexico shirts scattered among the orange and the red, had overwhelmingly chosen their side, and every Dutch touch drew a boo from the stands. There was history in the air. On this very date in 2014, Mexico had been eliminated by the Netherlands, an Arjen Robben tumble earning a controversial late penalty. A banner in the stand put it plainly enough.

Bounou the Hero, Just as He Was in Qatar

It was Bart Verbruggen who kept the Dutch alive in the first half, pulling off two fine saves to deny Neil El Aynaoui and Achraf Hakimi in quick succession. Morocco had the better of the early exchanges and they carried that sense of the likelier winner all the way through to the 72nd minute, when Cody Gakpo hammered a finish past Bounou to apparently settle matters.

What followed was both football at its most brutal and a reminder that the sport exists in a broader human context. Gakpo — who had taken to the pitch despite the devastating announcement that he and his partner had lost their unborn child — fell to the turf in tears after scoring, pointing skyward, with Denzel Dumfries rushing to comfort him. Football can wound in spectacular fashion. Moments like that put everything in perspective.

Yet Diop's header levelled proceedings and condemned both sides to extra time, and then to the shootout where Bounou, who saved twice against Spain at Qatar 2022, once again proved his nerve was unshakeable. After misses on both sides made the whole affair feel almost farcical, the goalkeeper's intervention handed Saibari his moment of glory.

A Complex Rivalry, a Clear Victor

There is considerable cultural texture to this fixture. Over 430,000 people of Moroccan origin live in the Netherlands, and three Dutch-born players — including Noussair Mazraoui — were in Morocco's squad. The on-pitch needle, which saw Jan Paul van Hecke leave the field with blood on his scalp after a clash with Mazraoui, reflected something deeper than mere knockout tension.

For the Netherlands, it is a painful exit built on a negative approach that ultimately left them vulnerable. For Morocco, it is another chapter in a remarkable recent history — and Canada await in the last 16.

Frequently asked

Who does Morocco play in the World Cup 2026 last 16?
Morocco will face Canada in the round of 16 after beating the Netherlands on penalties in the last 32 at Monterrey Stadium.
What happened in the Netherlands vs Morocco penalty shootout?
Both teams missed twice during a chaotic shootout. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville's effort before Ismael Saibari converted the winning penalty to send Morocco through 3-2 on spot kicks.
Why was Cody Gakpo emotional after scoring against Morocco?
Gakpo played despite the announcement that he and his partner had lost their unborn child. He broke down in tears after scoring in the 72nd minute, pointing to the sky before being comforted by team-mate Denzel Dumfries.