Who will Morocco face in Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Netherlands?
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The Atlas Lions are through to the round of 16.
Morocco defeated the Netherlands on penalty kicks Monday night in Monterrey, Mexico, following a nail-biting second day of the round of 32 matches.
It was a confrontation between international football titans. Morocco and the Netherlands were rated sixth and seventh in the FIFA global rankings, respectively. Both nations advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup.
So it was no surprise that the closely contested game had to be settled by penalty kicks. However, it was the Atlas Lions who came out with bragging rights against the top European giant. They sent the Dutch packing home after a win on penalties.
Now, what’s next for Morocco in the World Cup? Here’s who the squad will face in the round of 16.
Also read: Who will Paraguay face in Round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026 after beating Germany?
Who will Morocco face in FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16?
Morocco will play Canada in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16. This is after the North African powerhouse upset the Netherlands 3-2 on penalty kicks on Monday. The sides were level 1-1 following 120 minutes in Guadalupe, Mexico.
No. 30 (FIFA ranking) Canada progressed to the game with a 1-0 victory against South Africa in the Round of 32 on Sunday in Los Angeles. It was their first appearance in a World Cup knockout match.
Whoever wins, their path to the final will only get more difficult. The winner will face one of the big sides. The winner of Saturday’s encounter in Houston will face even more difficult opponents in the quarterfinals, notably favourite France.
However, both Canada and Morocco will be keen to put in their finest performances in the tournament in order to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals.
Who will Morocco face in the round of 16?
They will face Canada in the round of 16.
How did the Atlas Lions win against the Netherlands?
They won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.