Morocco’s national team sparked jubilant celebrations in Monterrey on Monday night after eliminating the Netherlands in a dramatic penalty shootout to advance to the Round of 16 of the World Cup.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time before Morocco held their nerve in the shootout, winning 3-2, with Ismael Saibari converting the decisive penalty that sealed a historic exit for the Dutch side.
The result marked the earliest World Cup elimination in the Netherlands’ history, ending a run in which they had consistently reached at least the Round of 16 in 11 previous appearances.
Morocco will now turn their attention to Canada in the Round of 16, with the match scheduled for Saturday in Houston.
Speaking after the game, Moroccan fans expressed pride in their team’s resilience and fighting spirit.
“Holland scored, but they showed their heart and came back… Even in penalties, we believe in them,” fan Ahmed Yanouri said, adding that the team’s comeback mentality gives them confidence heading into the next round.
Despite the disappointment, some Dutch supporters acknowledged Morocco’s superiority on the night.
“They were just not at their best and Morocco was better and deserved it,” said Netherlands fan Niels Veldhoven. “We were lucky their goalkeeper saved us several times, but Morocco were the deserved winners.”
The clash was highly anticipated, featuring two of the highest-ranked teams in the Round of 32—Morocco sixth in the world and the Netherlands seventh—making the upset even more significant.
