Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
Morocco defeated Haiti 4-2 in an entertaining 2026 World Cup match at the Atlanta Stadium on Thursday morning, securing a second-place finish in Group C behind Brazil.
The Atlas Lions advanced into the knockout rounds alongside the South Americans and will next play in the Round of 32 against the winner of Group F (likely to be the Netherlands) in Guadalupe on the morning (03:00 CAT) of Tuesday 30 June.
Morocco were on the front foot from the early stages, but Haiti claimed the lead in the 10th minute against the run of play: Lenny Joseph back-heeled home (via the body of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who was ultimately credited with an own goal) at the near post from Jean-Kevin Duverne’s right-flank cross. It was the Grenadiers’ first ever goal in World Cup history.
Morocco created numerous chances to draw level, including a passage of play in the 30th minute which saw Haiti goalkeeper Johnny Placide make back-to-back saves to deny Achraf Hakimi and Ayoub El Kaabi.
On 39 minutes the North Africans drew level, with Bilal El Khannouss driving in a deflected effort from the left of the penalty area – Placide clawed the ball away from the top corner, but it then fell invitingly for Hakimi to bundle home at close range.
However, Haiti stunned Morocco again in the 43rd minute and reclaimed the lead. Wilson Isidor found himself in a pocket of space outside the penalty area and hammered a brilliant long-range shot into the top corner for 2-1.
The twists and turns continued, as the Atlas Lions equalised for a second time in injury time before the interval. Ismael Saibari latched onto Hakimi’s low cross and swept home for 2-2 – his third goal in as many games at this World Cup.
Morocco had momentum on their side early in the second half, but were unable to find a way past Placide. Following the hydration break, they opted for a triple substitution which saw the introduction of Azzedine Ounahi, Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine.
The changes did the trick for the North Africans, with a corner kick flicked on to find Rahimi, who scored with a deflected shot in the 78th minute to put his side in front for the first time in the match.
And another sub, Yassine, closed out the scoring in the 89th minute when he tapped home from a great assist by Rahimi. The goal was reviewed by VAR for the ball possibly crossing the by-line in the build-up, but was ultimately confirmed to make it 4-2.
Morocco (2) 4 (A. Hakimi 39’, I. Saibari 45+1’, S. Rahimi 78’, G. Yassine 89’)
Haiti (2) 2 (Y. Bounou og 10’, W. Isidor 43’)
Morocco: Y. Bounou, A. Hakimi, R. Halhal, C. Riad, A. Salah-Eddine (N. Mazraoui 83’), S. Amrabat, N. El Aynaoui (S. El Mourabet 83’), B. Diaz (A. Ounahi 70’), I. Saibari (S. Rahimi 70’), B. El Khannouss, A. El Kaabi (G. Yassine 70’)
Haiti: J. Placide, J. Duverne (C. Arcus 80’), R. Ade, H. Delcroix, M. Experience, J. Casimir, D. Jean Jacques (D. Simon 80’), J. Bellegarde, R. Providence (D. Nazon 67’), W. Isidor (L. Deedson 67’), L. Joseph (F. Pierrot 83’)
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