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Jun 25, 2026 Major4
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Morocco Advances to World Cup Knockout Stage with Dramatic 4-2 Victory over Haiti
Morocco advanced to the World Cup knockout stage with a 4-2 victory over Haiti on June 25, 2026, finishing second in Group C. Haiti, returning to the tournament after 52 years, scored twice in a moral victory despite the loss, marking their first World Cup goals since 1974.
Quick Facts
Who
Morocco national team
What
Morocco defeated Haiti 4-2
When
June 25, 2026
Where
Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, USA
- Morocco defeated Haiti 4-2
- Morocco advanced to Round of 16
- Haiti scored first goal since 1974
- Haiti took the lead twice
- Morocco came from behind twice
Morocco secured a 4-2 victory over Haiti in a Group C match on June 25, 2026, at Atlanta Stadium, advancing to the Round of 16 as the second-place finisher in their group. The North African side mounted a remarkable comeback against the Caribbean nation, which was making its historic return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974 after a 52-year absence.
Haiti took the lead twice during the match, first through an own goal by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in the 10th minute when Lenny Joseph executed a spectacular back-heel after a cross from Jean-Kevin Duverne. Wilson Isidor restored Haiti's lead in the 43rd minute with a long-range strike into the upper corner. Morocco equalized through Achraf Hakimi in the 39th minute and again through Ismael Saibari's header at 45+1 minutes. The turning point came when substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine scored in the 78th and 89th minutes respectively to secure Morocco's victory.
Morocco finished Group C with seven points—level with Brazil on goal difference—but advanced as runners-up due to Brazil's superior goal differential of +6 compared to Morocco's +3. Brazil had defeated Scotland 3-0 in the other group match. Morocco will face the winner of Group F in the knockout round on June 30 in Monterrey, Mexico, continuing their quest after reaching the semifinal stage in 2022.
Despite the loss, Haiti celebrated a moral victory. The Haitians scored two goals—their first World Cup goals since 1974—and earned praise from their coach Sébastien Migné for proving their worthiness on soccer's biggest stage. Haiti concluded the tournament with three consecutive losses after opening with a 1-0 defeat to Scotland and then losing 3-0 to Brazil, which eliminated them from knockout contention. Haitian fans and officials expressed pride in the team's achievement of returning to the World Cup and scoring, with hope that the next appearance will not require another 52-year wait.
Why This Matters
Morocco's advancement demonstrates their competitive strength in a high-stakes tournament despite a close group finish, while Haiti's return and goal-scoring achievement marks a significant milestone for Caribbean football after five decades of absence, inspiring hopes for sustained development of the sport in the region.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1974
WireHaiti last appeared in World Cup
Jan 1, 2022
WireMorocco reached World Cup semifinal
Jun 25, 2026
WireMorocco vs Haiti match begins
Jun 25, 2026
WireMatch ends; Morocco advances to round of 16 as Group C runners-up
Jun 25, 2026
WireLenny Joseph scores own goal for Haiti (1-0)
Jun 25, 2026
WireMatch conclusion; Morocco advances to Round of 16 as Group C runners-up
Jun 25, 2026
WireAchraf Hakimi equalizes for Morocco (1-1)
Jun 25, 2026
WireWilson Isidor gives Haiti lead (2-1)
Jun 25, 2026
WireIsmael Saibari equalizes for Morocco (2-2)
Jun 25, 2026
WireMatch concludes; Morocco advances to knockout stage
Jun 25, 2026
WireHaiti takes 1-0 lead through Lenny Joseph's back-heel goal (own-goal credited to Yassine Bounou)
Jun 30, 2026
WireMorocco to face Group F winner in Round of 16 in Monterrey
Entities
Sources
- Mundial Marruecos Haiti Rahimi Hakimi 149d4ee401e04cf0cbbf626a4847ee37apWireJun 25, 2026
- World Cup Haiti Morocco C9b9695fb86557073bfc942dd6b590f8apWireJun 25, 2026
- Maroc 4-2 Haïti, Coupe du monde : match terminéL'ÉquipeMediaJun 25, 2026
- Marokko gelang ein dramatisches Comeback und sicherte sich einen Platz in der K.o.-Runde.Vietnam.vnMediaJun 25, 2026