Morocco came from behind twice to defeat Haiti 4-2 in their final Group C match at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, securing second place in the group and extending their tournament run. Haiti, playing without pressure, struck two historic goals but ultimately waved goodbye as the Atlas Lions finished strongly to take the points.
The match, played at Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday 24 June at 18:00 local time, delivered a breathless first half with four goals and repeated momentum swings. Morocco’s response after falling behind, and their late control after the break, proved decisive as they set up a Round of 32 clash with the winner of Group F in Monterrey on 29 June.
Four-goal first half sets up a dramatic finish
Haiti opened the scoring in the 10th minute in memorable fashion. Full back Jean-Kevin Duverne cut the ball back across the penalty area and Lenny Joseph produced an audacious back-heel flick. The ball ricocheted in off Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou for an own goal, but the moment still sparked celebrations for what was described as Haiti’s first World Cup goal in 52 years.
That early strike jolted Morocco into action. The Atlas Lions pushed for an equaliser and created several chances, only to be denied by Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide. Morocco finally found their breakthrough in the 39th minute through Achraf Hakimi. After Placide parried a shot from Bilal El Khannouss, Hakimi bundled the ball over the line to level the match at 1-1.
The equaliser did not settle the contest. Haiti regained the lead just moments later, with Isidor producing what was described as a “truly world-class strike.” The Grenadier striker lashed home from distance in the 43rd minute to restore Haiti’s advantage at 2-1 and add another landmark moment to their tournament.
Morocco responded again before the interval. In first-half stoppage time, Hakimi provided the decisive contribution once more, cutting the ball back for Saibari, who side-footed home in the 45+1 minute to make it 2-2 at the break. With both teams trading blows and the lead changing hands twice, the opening 45 minutes set the stage for a tense second half.
Morocco squeeze after the break
After half-time, Morocco gradually tightened their grip on the game. The report noted that the Atlas Lions “slowly squeezed the Haitians,” and their persistence eventually turned into a lead goal with just over ten minutes remaining.
Soufiane Rahimi completed Morocco’s comeback in the 78th minute, firing home a deflected shot from a corner kick to put Morocco ahead for the first time at 3-2. With Haiti chasing an equaliser late on, Morocco found the finishing touch in the dying minutes when youngster Gessime Yassine added a fourth in the 89th minute to secure a 4-2 victory.
Hakimi was named Superior Player of the Match after scoring once and playing a key role in Morocco’s first-half recovery, including the cutback that led to Saibari’s equaliser.
What it means: Morocco advance, Haiti leave with history
The win confirms Morocco’s place in the knockout rounds, with the Atlas Lions finishing second in Group C. Their next assignment will be against the winner of Group F in Monterrey on 29 June, as their World Cup journey continues beyond group play.
For Haiti, the result ended an “exciting first appearance at the World Cup in over 50 years.” Despite the defeat, the match delivered a significant milestone: Haiti scored two goals for the first time at the FIFA World Cup, and their opener made them the 45th nation to score at the 2026 tournament.
Post-match, Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss reflected on the team’s performance, saying: “At times we lacked humility and paid the price for it. We weren’t fully committed in the duels, we gave them confidence and allowed them to grow into the game and score twice.” Hakimi added that Morocco “didn’t start well,” but credited the team’s response and attacking approach for the turnaround. Haiti coach Sebastien Migne said his side wanted to “leave with our heads held high,” adding: “And that’s exactly what we’ve done.”