World Cup: Morocco Ousts Netherlands, Paraguay Eliminates Germany, Brazil Survives Final Moments

Published 30 June / June 2026

Reading time: 4 minutes

The Moroccan national team, fourth-place finishers in the last edition in Qatar 2022, knocked out the Netherlands and reached the round of 16, defeating them 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time in the Mexican city of Monterrey in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup in North America.

Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saved the fifth penalty from Crisensio Summerville, before Ismail Sbaïry successfully scored the final spot kick to seal the victory for the 'Atlas Lions'.

Morocco turned the tables on the Netherlands twice: first when the 'Oranje' took the lead through Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo (72nd minute), as Fulham defender Issa Diop equalized for the Atlas Lions with a header in the first minute of stoppage time, and again in the penalty shootout, when Nail El Aynaiwi missed the first kick before Morocco clinched it and set up a meeting on Saturday in Houston with Canada, who had advanced at the expense of South Africa 1-0.

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Morocco avenged their defeat to the Netherlands in their only previous World Cup meeting in the group stage in 1994 in Orlando, USA, and set up a date with Canada, whom they had surpassed in the third round of the group stage at the Qatar World Cup on their way to achieving their unprecedented feat.

Morocco followed the same path, as the draw then pitted them against Spain in the round of 16, whom they overcame on penalties as well before beating Portugal in the quarter-finals and then exiting against France in the semi-finals.

This is the third time they have reached the round of 16 in their seventh World Cup appearance, after 1986 and 2022.

Morocco deserved the win as they were the better and more dangerous side in both regular and extra time, while the Netherlands merely managed the game to reach penalties, which they succeeded in, but failed in the shootout after scoring only two through substitutes Ton Kooopmeiners and Wout Weghorst, while Justin Kluivert, Quinten Timber, and Crisensio Summerville missed.

In contrast, Morocco scored through Soufiane Rahimi, Chamseddine Talbi, and Ismail Sbaïry, while El Aynaiwi and captain Achraf Hakimi missed.

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With this result, Morocco joined Paraguay and Brazil in the round of 16.

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Before Morocco's match with the Netherlands, Paraguay caused the biggest surprise of the 2026 World Cup by eliminating Germany, one of the title contenders and four-time world champions, on penalties 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro/Boston, USA, in the Round of 32.

Julio Enciso opened the scoring for Paraguay (42nd minute) and Kai Havertz equalized for the Germans, who were better in the match (54th).

In the penalty shootout, from the German side, Havertz, substitute Nico Voltemade, and Jonathan Tah missed amid the brilliance of goalkeeper Orlando Gill, while from the other side, substitutes Antonio Sanabria and Fabian Balbuena missed.

This is considered Germany's first penalty shootout defeat in their World Cup appearances, after having successfully advanced four times via that method, noting that they are the team with the most extra-time appearances in World Cup history with 12, compared to 11 for Argentina and Italy, and 10 for England.

Goalkeeper Gill, the man of the match, said: 'An immense feeling. It was a difficult match. We managed to hold on. We took the lead, then they equalized, but we succeeded in keeping our composure. Of course, we analyzed each player's performance and every detail regarding the penalty takers.' He added: 'We have eliminated a champion. I dedicate this achievement to all the people of Paraguay.'

In contrast, German coach Julian Nagelsmann said: 'We needed speed, our players were not fast enough... We didn't do enough today.'

Replying to a question about whether he wants to continue in his position, he answered: 'Yes, I want to continue.'

Paraguay advanced to the next round where they will face either France, favorites to win the title, or Sweden in the round of 16.

Narrow win for Brazil

Brazil came from behind against Japan to win 2-1 thanks to a goal by Gabriel Martinelli in stoppage time, also in the Round of 32.

Brazil's performance improved after the break, after Japan took an early lead and limited the danger of Brazil's attack, the five-time champions, for most of the first half.

Martinelli's decisive goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time at the end of a heated match, making it the latest winning goal in regular time of a World Cup knockout stage match since 1966.

Brazilian players and coaching staff embraced on the pitch after the match, while the Japanese players watched in shock.

Martinelli said: 'I can't describe my feeling. I won't really process it until later... I'm very happy for the team that gave their all. I have no words.'

This result denied Japan their first ever victory in a World Cup knockout stage, while Brazil remained on track to reach the quarter-finals again, as they have done in every edition since exiting in the round of 16 in 1990.

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