Morocco beat Netherlands on penalties after late equaliser

Morocco drew 1-1 with the Netherlands and then advanced 3-2 on penalties in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32, with Issa Diop’s 90’+1 equaliser changing the night after Cody Gakpo had put the Dutch ahead in the 72nd minute at Estadio BBVA.

For long stretches, Morocco were the side asking more of the fixture. They controlled 70 percent of possession, won eight corners to the Netherlands’ five, and finished with 11 shots to six. Yet for all that territorial command, the opening half remained goalless, with the Dutch defending compactly and waiting for moments to break.

The first half ended 0-0, and the pattern largely held after the interval. Morocco circulated the ball with patience and kept pinning the Netherlands back, but clear chances were limited. Issa Diop went into the book in the 47th minute, a sign of how competitive the duels had become as Morocco tried to sustain pressure high up the pitch.

Then came the moment that looked set to decide the match. In the 72nd minute, Cody Gakpo found the breakthrough for the Netherlands, giving the Dutch a 1-0 lead against the run of play. It was a clinical contribution in a match where the Netherlands had seen only 30 percent of the ball and managed just two shots on target.

From there, the Dutch seemed positioned to see out the result, but Morocco kept pushing. Their persistence paid off in stoppage time when Issa Diop rose to score with a header in the 90’+1 minute, levelling the match at 1-1 and sending Morocco’s supporters into celebration. It was a deserved equaliser on the balance of chances and a major shift in momentum just as the Netherlands were preparing to protect their advantage.

Extra time could not separate the sides. The additional 30 minutes brought no further goals, with both teams feeling the weight of the occasion and the knockout stakes. The match moved to penalties, where Morocco held their nerve better.

In the shootout, Teun Koopmeiners scored for the Netherlands and Soufiane Rahimi replied for Morocco. Wout Weghorst then converted for the Dutch, before Chemsdine Talbi and Ismael Saibari both found the net for Morocco. That left Morocco 3-2 winners on penalties and through to the next round after a disciplined, resilient display.

Key performers

Issa Diop was the standout figure, not only for his stoppage-time header in the 90’+1 minute but also for his defensive work in a tense knockout fixture. Gakpo’s 72nd-minute goal nearly proved decisive for the Netherlands, and his movement offered one of the few sharp Dutch attacking moments of the night.

Morocco’s collective control was also central to the outcome. Their midfield dictated the tempo, and the side’s ability to keep the Netherlands pinned in a low block eventually told. Five shots on target and a significant possession edge reflected a team that stayed committed to its plan even after falling behind.

NerdSports Stat: Morocco had 70% possession, 11 shots, 8 corners and 5 shots on target, yet still needed a 90’+1 equaliser and penalties to advance — a reminder of how fine the margins can be in knockout football.

This was a draw settled only by penalties, but it is Morocco who move on in the FIFA World Cup 2026 after claiming the shootout 3-2. The Netherlands exit despite Gakpo’s well-taken opener, while Morocco head into the next fixture with momentum and belief after another composed performance on the tournament stage.

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