Morocco’s dramatic FIFA World Cup 2026 victory over the Netherlands sparked contrasting scenes on both continents, with jubilant celebrations erupting in Casablanca as clashes erupted between football fans and police in the Dutch city of The Hague following the Atlas Lions’ historic qualification for the Round of 16.Morocco stunned the Netherlands 3-2 in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw after extra time, condemning the Dutch to their first ever World Cup exit and setting up a last-16 clash against co-hosts Canada.
Celebrations turned chaotic in The Hague
The Netherlands is home to a large Moroccan community, and thousands of supporters celebrated Morocco’s victory late into the night. However, festivities in The Hague’s Schilderswijk district turned violent as the police intervened.According to Dutch police, “heavy fireworks were set off” during the celebrations, with officers being attacked from fireworks and stones. Riot police were deployed to restore order, charging people and using a water cannon to break up the gatherings.Police confirmed that “several individuals have been arrested for committing acts of apparent violence.”Meanwhile, more than 2,000 kilometers away in Casablanca, the atmosphere was one of unbridled joy.As Ismael Saibari converted the winning penalty, the tense silence inside the cafés full of supporters quickly turned into deafening celebrations. Fireworks lit up the night sky as fans poured into the streets waving Moroccan flags, honking car horns and chanting after midnight.Despite the early hours of the morning and a day of work ahead, hundreds of supporters continued to celebrate until dawn, gathering on the main boulevards of Casablanca while chanting, “Canada, we are coming for you.”
Hakimi: “Qatar is not a stroke of luck”
Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi said the victory proved that his team’s remarkable run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals was without one.“It’s a complicated and very difficult match. We know who our opponent is, and we’re preparing well physically because we know it’s going to be a tough game, but we also know it’s going to be tough mentally,” Hakimi told the host broadcaster.“We kept our full focus until the end, showing the true spirit of this team, and we are very proud of this victory.”Hakimi also responded to critics who suggested Morocco’s success in Qatar was a fluke.“There are many people who think that what happened in Qatar was just a stroke of luck. But we kept our focus, and hard work always pays. Now we are reaping the rewards of that effort,” he said.