Morocco booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after defeating the Netherlands 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time in Guadalupe, Mexico.
Ismael Saibari converted the decisive spot-kick to seal Morocco’s victory after a dramatic shootout that featured a series of saves and missed attempts from both teams.
The penalty shootout entered the World Cup record books after producing four penalties that missed the target—the most ever in a FIFA World Cup shootout.
The unprecedented number of off-target spot-kicks made the Netherlands-Morocco contest the first World Cup penalty shootout to witness as many as four penalties miss the target.
Despite the wastefulness from the penalty spot, Morocco held their nerve to emerge victorious and secure a place in the last 16, while the match will be remembered for setting a unique World Cup record.
