Key duel in Monterrey
The Netherlands and Morocco meet tomorrow for a ticket to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The match will be played at the stadium in Monterrey, Mexico, where Canada, host along with the United States and Mexico, is already waiting.
FIFA appointed Brazilian Wilton Sampaio as main referee. He will be assisted by his compatriots Bruno Pires and Bruno Boschilia. The Chilean Cristian Garay will be the fourth referee.
How both teams arrive
The Netherlands has survived the group stage in its twelve World Cup appearances. They are looking for their first title after three runners-up finishes (1974, 1978 and 2010). Under the direction of Ronald Koeman, they won Group F with 7 points: they tied 2-2 with Japan, beat Sweden 5-1 and beat Tunisia 3-1. He has gone 15 games without losing in World Cups; their last defeat was against Spain in the 2010 final.
The Dutch team trained in Kansas City, United States, before traveling to Monterrey.
Morocco, led by Mohamed Ouahbi, surprised at Qatar 2022 by reaching fourth place. In this World Cup they tied 1-1 with Brazil in the debut (Group C), then beat Scotland 1-0 and Haiti 4-2. They finished second with 7 points, the same as Brazil but with a worse goal difference. He has accumulated 26 consecutive games without losing. In addition, it awaits a CAS ruling on Senegal’s appeal over the African Cup of Nations final, which Morocco initially won 1-0 but was later awarded 3-0.
History and what’s coming
The only precedent in World Cups was in 1994, with the Dutch victory 2-1 in the group stage. Morocco has only passed the group stage in Mexico 1986 (round of 16) and Qatar 2022. If they beat the Netherlands, they will face Canada on Saturday, July 4 in Houston, which has already qualified after agonizingly beating South Africa 1-0.