The 2026 World Cup round of 32 produced a dramatic evening as Morocco and the Netherlands played to a 1-1 stalemate before the tie was decided by penalties.
Cody Gakpo opened the scoring for the Dutch in the 72nd minute, only for Issa Diop to equalize for Morocco in the 91st minute, forcing the match into a penalty decider.
Road to the Round of 16
Morocco edged the Netherlands 4-3 in the shootout, advancing to the round of 16 and joining Canada in the next stage of the tournament.
The victory sets up a highly anticipated clash between Morocco and Canada on July 4 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, a venue that previously hosted several knockout‑stage fixtures.
Ticket demand is already high, with the cheapest seats starting at $934 and lower‑level tickets priced at $1,270, reflecting the growing excitement among fans.
Morocco’s path to this stage has been marked by a draw against Brazil, a win over Scotland and another victory against Haiti, while their group standings show them tied with Brazil on seven points.
The round of 16 matchup will test Morocco’s momentum against a Canadian side that secured its place by edging South Africa 1-0 in the 92nd minute, a goal that proved decisive.