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Rabat – Spain international Lamine Yamal has revealed that he expected Morocco to eliminate the Netherlands from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco reached the round of 16 after defeating the Dutch 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in Monterrey.
During a media interview, Yamal was asked which result had surprised him more: Paraguay’s victory over Germany or Morocco’s success against the Netherlands.
The Barcelona winger chose Paraguay because he had already predicted Morocco would win their match.
“In the Netherlands-Morocco game, I had bet with my friends that Morocco would win,” Yamal said.
“I said the score would be 2-2 and that Morocco would then win on penalties, so I was very close with my prediction.”
Yamal did not predict the exact score, but he correctly expected the match to reach a shootout and end with Moroccan qualification.
The Netherlands took the lead through Cody Gakpo in the 72nd minute and appeared close to reaching the next round.
Morocco refused to give up and continued attacking during the closing stages.
Issa Diop scored a stoppage-time equalizer with a powerful header, forcing the match into extra time.
Neither team found a second goal during the additional 30 minutes, leaving penalties to decide the winner.
Yassine Bounou saved Crysencio Summerville’s attempt, while Justin Kluivert and Quinten Timber also failed to convert for the Netherlands.
Ismael Saibari scored Morocco’s decisive penalty to complete a 3-2 shootout victory.
The result sent Mohamed Ouahbi’s team into the last 16, where they will face tournament co-hosts Canada.
Yamal’s connection with Morocco
Yamal’s support for Morocco attracted attention because of his family connection to the country.
The Spanish international was born in Catalonia to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother.
He was eligible to represent Morocco but chose Spain, progressing through the country’s youth system before becoming a senior international.
Despite that decision, Yamal has continued to speak positively about his Moroccan roots.
His comments showed that he closely followed the Atlas Lions’ World Cup campaign and believed they were capable of defeating one of Europe’s strongest teams.
Morocco had already demonstrated their quality during the group stage by drawing with Brazil and defeating Scotland and Haiti.
Their victory over the Netherlands provided another example of the team’s resilience under Ouahbi.
