Morocco continued to showcase the strength of African football at the 2026 FIFA World Cup by securing qualification for the Round of 32 with a 4-2 victory over Haiti in their final Group C match.
In the match played in Atlanta, Morocco had to work hard for the win after being pushed all the way by a determined Haiti side. The teams went into halftime level at 2-2 after an entertaining first half.
Haiti made a fast start and took the lead through an own goal credited to Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Captain Achraf Hakimi equalized in the 39th minute, but Wilson Isidor restored Haiti's advantage with a powerful strike. Morocco responded before the break through Ismael Saibari, who made it 2-2.
The second half remained highly competitive, with Haiti continuing to impress despite already being eliminated from the tournament. Morocco increased the pressure and eventually found a breakthrough when prolific forward Soufiane Rahimi scored in the 78th minute. Youngster Gessime Yassine then added a fourth goal in the 89th minute to seal an important victory for the Atlas Lions.
The win saw Morocco finish second in Group C with seven points, level with group winners Brazil but behind on goal difference. The Atlas Lions have now officially qualified for the Round of 32, where they will face the winners of Group F.
Morocco have been one of the standout teams of the tournament so far. They opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Brazil, followed it with a 1-0 victory over Scotland, and concluded the group stage with a four-goal performance against Haiti.
Those results have strengthened Morocco's status as one of Africa's leading hopes in the race for World Cup glory.
After the match, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi acknowledged that his team faced a difficult challenge against Haiti but emphasized that the most important objective was securing victory and advancing to the next round.
On the other hand, Haiti earned praise for their fighting spirit despite finishing the tournament without a point. The Caribbean nation also celebrated scoring its first World Cup goals since its appearance at the 1974 tournament.
