Morocco’s Atlas Lions have defeated Haiti 4-2 in their third and final Group C match, played in the American city of Atlanta. For the third time in their World Cup history, after the 1986 edition and the 2022 edition where they made history with a semifinal run, the Atlas Lions have thus secured qualification for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday.
In the breathtaking match, Haiti opened the scoring in the 10th minute when goalkeeper Yassine Bounou inadvertently put the ball into his own net in the 10th minute, handing Haiti an early lead.
The Atlas Lions responded before halftime through captain Achraf Hakimi, who leveled the score in the 39th minute after sustained Moroccan pressure.
Haiti regained the lead just four minutes later when Wilson Isidore unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty area.
However, Ismael Saibari restored parity for Morocco by scoring the equalizer (2-2) in first-half stoppage time.
With qualification hanging in the balance, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi turned to his bench in the second half, and the substitutions proved decisive.
Soufiane Rahimi put Morocco ahead in the 78th minute, capitalizing on a corner kick and beating goalkeeper Johny Placide. Yassine Jassim then added a fourth goal in the 89th minute, sealing a valuable victory for the Atlas Lions.
Yassine Jessim sealed the victory in the 89th minute, finishing off a late attack to secure a 4-2 win and ensure Morocco’s passage to the knockout rounds.
In the other Group C match, Brazil defeated Scotland 3-0 to finish top of the group with seven points. Morocco also advanced to the next round in second place with the same number of points, trailing Brazil only on goal difference.
The result extends Morocco’s strong international record following its historic 2022 World Cup campaign in Qatar and confirms the Atlas Lions as one of the leading representatives of African football at the 2026 tournament.
