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Casablanca – Moroccan fans flooded the streets in celebration early Tuesday morning after the Atlas Lions knocked the Netherlands out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on penalties, sending Morocco into the Round of 16 against co-host Canada.
Scenes of celebration were also seen across several Dutch cities, home to a large Moroccan diaspora community that has long maintained strong emotional ties to the national team.
But while many gatherings remained festive, clashes erupted in parts of The Hague, particularly in the Schilderswijk district, where Dutch police said officers were targeted with fireworks and stones as riot units moved in to disperse crowds using water cannons.
Videos circulating online showing police confronting celebrating Moroccan fans quickly drew strong reactions on social media.
Many users criticized what they viewed as an excessive police response to largely emotional post-match celebrations, while others pointed to the broader hostility that emerged online in the hours following Morocco’s victory.
Several posts from Dutch users went viral, calling for celebrating fans to be “deported,” arguing they “feel more Moroccan than Dutch,” comments that sparked backlash of their own, with many accusing critics of questioning the identity and belonging of Dutch citizens of Moroccan descent simply for celebrating their heritage.
The match itself ended in heartbreak for the Netherlands after Morocco equalized deep into stoppage time before prevailing 3-2 on penalties in Monterrey.
As Morocco prepares to face Canada in the Round of 16, the scenes across both Morocco and Europe once again highlighted the global emotional pull of the Atlas Lions and the complicated conversations around identity, diaspora, and belonging that often follow their biggest victories.
