Morocco rallies past Haiti 4-2, advances as Group C runner-up with round of 16 spot
Soufiane Rahimi and Gessime Yassine came off the bench to complete Morocco’s 4-2 comeback against Haiti, securing second place in Group C and a trip to Monterrey for the round of 16.
Morocco twice fell behind before a late surge beat Haiti 4-2 in Atlanta, clinching second place in World Cup Group C behind Brazil and a knockout journey that is likely to begin against the Netherlands.
Match recap
Haiti stunned the Mercedes-Benz Stadium after only 10 minutes. Right-back Jean-Kevin Duverne’s low cross was flicked by Lenny Joseph, the ball deflecting off the back of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and into the net. Morocco recovered when captain Achraf Hakimi bundled in a close-range equaliser in the 39th minute, only for Wilson Isidor to restore Haiti’s lead with a superb strike from the edge of the box three minutes before half-time. The advantage lasted barely three minutes: Hakimi surged down the right and squared for Ismael Saibari to finish crisply, his third goal of the tournament.
After the restart Morocco seized control, creating a wave of chances through Hakimi and Bilal El Khannouss. The breakthrough arrived in the 78th minute when Soufiane Rahimi’s deflected shot, after a corner was only half-cleared, put the Atlas Lions ahead for the first time. Haiti pushed for an equaliser but were caught on the break in the 89th minute; Gessime Yassine converted Rahimi’s pass, and a lengthy VAR review for a possible ball-out in the build-up confirmed the goal.
- 10′ – Haiti 1-0: Yassine Bounou own goal after Lenny Joseph flick deflects off his back.
- 39′ – Morocco 1-1: Achraf Hakimi scores from close range following sustained pressure.
- 43′ – Haiti 2-1: Wilson Isidor long-range strike beats Bounou at the near post.
- 45+1′ – Morocco 2-2: Ismael Saibari finishes a cross from Hakimi, capping a quick response.
- 78′ – Morocco 3-2: Soufiane Rahimi’s deflected shot after a corner puts Morocco in front.
- 89′ – Morocco 4-2: Gessime Yassine scores from Rahimi’s pass, upheld after VAR check.
Group picture
Both Morocco and Brazil finished with seven points. Brazil’s 3-0 win over Scotland in Miami gave them a goal difference of plus six (seven scored, one conceded), while Morocco’s tally settled at plus three (six scored, three conceded). Haiti ended without a point, their first World Cup appearance since 1974 a frustrating one, while Scotland’s three points left them hoping a best-third-place slot materialises.
What comes next
Morocco travel to Monterrey, Mexico, for a round-of-32 match on Monday, June 29. The Athletic’s bracket projection tool points to the Netherlands as the most probable opponent, the Group F winner. Brazil will face the Group F runner-up (likely Japan) in Houston the same day.
