Morocco knock the Netherlands out on penalties (1-1, 3-2) to reach the last 16

Morocco sprang another big round-of-32 shock by knocking the Netherlands out on penalties (1-1, 3-2) at Estadio BBVA in Guadalupe, in the Monterrey metropolitan area and one of Mexico's three 2026 World Cup venues. The imposing 'Steel Giant', home of Club de Fútbol Monterrey, holding 51,243 spectators and famed for the view of the Cerro de la Silla mountain behind one goal, staged a dramatic tie that stretched across 120 minutes and was settled from the spot, sending the Atlas Lions into the last 16 of this 48-team World Cup staged by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The match looked to be going the Oranje's way in the second half. In the 72nd minute, Cody Gakpo finished from a Crysencio Summerville pass to put a Netherlands side lined up by Ronald Koeman in a 3-4-2-1 ahead. The Dutch lead held until the closing stages of normal time.

But Morocco never stopped believing. In the 90+1 minute, Issa Diop equalised from a Chemsdine Talbi pass to force extra time and spark the joy of Mohamed Ouahbi's team, set up in a 4-2-3-1. The stoppage-time goal completely flipped the script of a game that looked lost for the North Africans.

Extra time, goalless and with the match's only booking going to Diop (47'), took the tie to a nerve-shredding shootout. Morocco prevailed 3-2: Rahimi, Talbi and Saibari — who struck the decisive kick — all scored, while the Netherlands, on target through Koopmeiners and Weghorst, fell apart as Kluivert, Timber and Summerville missed. Goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, despite the defeat, was named man of the match.

The Netherlands, one of the sides tipped to go far, bow out of the 2026 World Cup cruelly, unable to seal the win despite leading. Morocco, by contrast, confirm their competitive edge and advance to the round of 16 of a single-elimination phase, extending the African party they already staged in recent editions.