French court confirms Morocco captain Hakimi will stand trial for rape
A French appeals court has confirmed that Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in connection with a rape allegation, a decision delivered while he captained his country at the 2026 World Cup.
The Versailles Court of Appeal ruled on June 19 that Hakimi, 27, should face a criminal trial over the alleged rape of a woman in 2023, an accusation he has repeatedly denied. His lawyers have since lodged an appeal with France's Court of Cassation, the country's highest court.
The case dates to March 2023, when Hakimi faced preliminary charges after a 24-year-old woman said she had been raped at his home in a Paris suburb. A date for any trial has not yet been set, and the legal process remains ongoing.
Shortly after the appeals court ruling, Hakimi said on social media that he had been waiting for the trial "since day one," maintaining his innocence. The Moroccan football federation has publicly backed its captain as he continues to feature in the tournament.
Hakimi is one of the most prominent African players in world football, a key figure for both PSG and Morocco. The proceedings have drawn significant attention given his profile and the timing alongside a major international tournament.
