Morocco beat Haiti to reach World Cup knockout rounds again
Morocco booked their place in the World Cup knockout stage with a 4-2 win over Haiti, finishing as runners-up in Group C at the 2026 tournament.
The Atlas Lions were pushed hard by a spirited Haiti side at Atlanta Stadium before late goals from Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine secured the victory. The result confirmed Morocco's progression from a group that tested the North African team.
The achievement carried historic weight: Morocco became only the third African nation to reach the World Cup knockout stage in back-to-back tournaments, following Nigeria and Ghana. It continued the momentum from their run to the semi-finals at the previous World Cup.
Morocco's reward was a place in the Round of 32, where they were drawn to face the Netherlands at the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey, Mexico, with a spot in the last 16 at stake.
The Atlas Lions' progress formed part of a notable World Cup for African football, with several teams from the continent advancing. Morocco will hope to build on their recent pedigree on the global stage as the knockout rounds begin.
