Ismael Saibari thumped home the decisive penalty in Monterrey to send Morocco into the World Cup round of 16 and eliminate the Netherlands after a 1-1 draw. The Atlas Lions prevailed 3-2 in the shootout, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou diving to his right to save Crysencio Summerville's effort and set up Saibari's clincher. It was Morocco's second consecutive World Cup penalty shootout victory, following their defeat of Spain in 2022, and condemned the Dutch to a fourth shootout loss in the tournament's history, a record they now share with Spain.

The Netherlands had appeared on course for victory when Cody Gakpo, playing days after the death of his unborn child, scored in the 72nd minute. Gakpo threw himself at a low cross from Summerville, who had been released by substitute Wout Weghorst's flick, and the forward dropped to the turf in a prolonged embrace with team-mates. But Morocco, who had hit the bar through Achraf Hakimi in the first half and forced Bart Verbruggen into several sharp saves, refused to yield. In the first minute of stoppage time, defender Issa Diop rose unmarked to glance a header from Chemsdine Talbi's cross past Verbruggen and force extra time.

Soufiane Rahimi squandered a golden chance to win it in extra time, racing clear only to be denied by Verbruggen, who blocked with his knee. The shootout then saw both sides falter: Neil El Aynaoui struck the bar for Morocco and Hakimi missed, while the Netherlands failed to hit the target twice before Bounou's save. Saibari stepped up to convert decisively, sparking celebrations among the Moroccan contingent.

The defeat marked the Netherlands' earliest exit from a World Cup, ending a run of 11 consecutive tournaments in which they had reached at least the last 16. It also extended their miserable record in penalty shootouts: they have now lost four of five at the World Cup. Morocco, meanwhile, become only the third African nation to reach consecutive round of 16 stages, after Nigeria and Ghana. Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who took charge only months before the tournament, said his side had "completely dominated" and interpreted the Netherlands' defensive approach as "a form of respect." He added that the team drew energy from millions of supporters watching at 2 a.m. local time.

Morocco will face co-hosts Canada in the last 16 in Houston on 4 July, a rematch of their 2022 group-stage encounter which Morocco won 2-1. The winner will advance to a quarter-final against either France or Sweden.