Football fans clashed with police in The Hague and celebrated into the early hours in Casablanca after Morocco sent the Netherlands crashing out of the World Cup on penalties on Monday.
The Netherlands, home to a large Moroccan community, witnessed jubilant scenes after the Atlas Lions’ victory, though celebrations in some areas turned violent.
Police in The Hague said “heavy fireworks were set off” in the Schilderswijk district, where officers were pelted with fireworks and stones. Riot police charged the crowd and used a water cannon to disperse the gathering.
“A few individuals have been arrested for committing open violence,” police said.
In Casablanca, Morocco’s largest city, the tense silence inside a coffee shop packed with supporters gave way to a deafening roar as Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty to send the Atlas Lions into the Round of 16.
Celebrations quickly spilled onto the streets, with flares and fireworks lighting up the night sky as car horns blared and engines revved.
Despite the late finish and the working day ahead, dozens of jubilant supporters gathered on a main boulevard in Casablanca at around 5 a.m. local time, dancing, waving Moroccan flags and chanting: “Canada, we’re coming for you.”
Morocco will face co-host Canada in the Round of 16 on Saturday. The Atlas Lions beat Canada 2-1 in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup.
Expectations are soaring across Morocco as supporters dream of another historic run, four years after the Atlas Lions became the first African nation to reach a World Cup semifinal.
Published on Jun 30, 2026
