Gessime Yassine #16 of Morocco celebrates with teammate Achraf Hakimi #2 after scoring his team's fourth goal.
Morocco beat Haiti 4-2 in Group C to reach World Cup knockouts
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Morocco had a dramatic 4-2 victory over Haiti in an enthralling encounter at Atlanta Stadium in the United States in the third and final round of the group stage.
The result made the Atlas Lions the first Arab team to officially secure a place in the Round of 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco raised its tally to seven points in Group C after an impressive campaign that began with a valuable 1-1 draw against Brazil, followed by a win over Scotland.
The North Africans capped off the group stage with a comeback victory over Haiti, which exited the tournament without a point despite taking an early lead.
Shock opener and equalizer (10th and 39th minutes): Haiti stunned Morocco with an early goal past Yassine Bounou. However, captain Achraf Hakimi leveled the score with a close-range left-footed finish, netting his 12th international goal in his 99th appearance for Morocco.
End-to-end action (43rd and 46th minutes): Wilson Isidore restored Haiti's lead with a powerful strike, but Morocco responded immediately after the break as Ismael Saibari found the equalizer to make it 2-2.
Atlas Lions seal the win (78th and 89th minutes): Morocco's attacking pressure eventually paid off, with Soufiane Rahimi scoring the third goal before Jassem Yassine ended Haiti's hopes by adding a fourth just one minute from time.
Bounou's heroics and Amrabat's sacrifice
The frantic stoppage-time period featured several key defensive moments. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou preserved Morocco's lead in the 94th minute with a superb save from a long-range free kick by Duckens Nazon that was heading toward the right corner.
Morocco finished the match with 10 men after midfielder Sofyan Amrabat was forced off injured in the 96th minute, with all substitutions already used. The Atlas Lions held firm against Haiti's late attempts, including a header from Frantzdy Pierrot and a shot from Louicius Don Deedson, until the referee blew the whistle to spark Moroccan and Arab celebrations.
