Netherlands Lose on Penalties for a Third Consecutive Tournament

For the third time in a row, the Netherlands have watched their dream fade away in the cruelest way possible, on penalties.

Rabat – From Brazil in 2014 to Qatar in 2022 and now the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Oranje have once again fallen victim to a penalty shootout. Their latest loss came against Morocco, after ending a 120-minute clash with a draw 1-1, and going to penalty shootouts, the Netherlands lost to Morocco 3-2.

The curse first started in the 2014 semi-finals, when the Netherlands were edged out by Argentina after a tense 0-0 draw, before losing 4-2 on penalties.

Eight years later, the Argentina nightmare returned. After producing a dramatic comeback against Argentina, who won the World Cup title in the 2022 quarter-finals 2-2, the Dutch once again failed to survive the penalty shootout 4-2, ending another impressive World Cup journey disappointingly.

History repeated itself in 2026 in Mexico. Following a 1-1 draw with Morocco in the Round of 32, the Netherlands were beaten 3-2 on penalties, becoming the first nation to be eliminated via penalties in three consecutive World Cups.

Morocco controlled the ball most of the time since the opening whistle, dominating possession and creating the more dangerous opportunities, but unfortunately, those chances weren’t converted into goals, so the Netherlands took advantage of Morocco’s missed chances to open the scoring, leaving the Atlas Lions facing a heartbreaking exit.

Just when it seemed the Dutch would qualify for the next round, Issa Diop rose to the occasion with a dramatic late equalizer, sending the match into extra time.

Morocco continued to dictate play over the next 30 minutes, while the Netherlands barely even touched the ball, but neither side could find a way to score, forcing the tie to a penalty shootout, which Morocco won 3-2.

In the end, only one team could qualify. Morocco emerged victorious after a gripping battle, but the contest underlined why Noussair Mazraoui described the tie as “unfair” to be played this early in the tournament.

Between two sides capable of going much further, Morocco vs. the Netherlands delivered one of the World Cup’s biggest and most memorable clashes.