Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over the Netherlands here at Monterrey Stadium on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After 120 minutes of intense tactical battle ended 1-1, the Atlas Lions held their nerve from the spot to win 3-2 on penalties and continue their remarkable World Cup journey.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It's the Dutch that made the breakthrough when Cody Gakpo broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute. A wonderful run and off-balance touchback across the face of goal from Crysencio Summerville to tee up Gakpo, who swept home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Gakpo now has become the joint-second top goalscorer, with six goals, for the Netherlands at the World Cup. He sits behind only Johnny Rep, who scored seven between 1974 (four goals) and 1978 (three goals).<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But, there was late drama as Morocco struck back with a 91st-minute leveller when central defender Issa Diop found himself in an advanced position to head home substitute Chemsdine Talbi's cross at the start of additional time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
An absorbing 120 minutes in Monterrey failed to produce a regulation or extra-time winner in a match of ebbs and flows. For the second straight fixture, penalty kicks were needed to split the teams.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But, there was late drama as Morocco struck back with a 91st-minute leveller when central defender Issa Diop found himself in an advanced position to head home substitute Chemsdine Talbi's cross at the start of additional time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
There, Yassine Bounou became the hero in the shootout, saving from Summerville after both teams missed twice from the spot before Saibari converted the decisive penalty to book a Round of 16 clash with World Cup co-hosts Canada in Houston on July 5.<\/p>\r\n\r\n