Published on 6/18/2026
In his third World Cup participation with the Atlas Lions, Achraf Hakimi arrived in the United States playing the role of leader and star in a Moroccan team that clearly shows his ambitions, without his case affecting him much, despite its weight.
At the end of May, while preparing for the Champions League final, which he later won with Paris Saint-Germain at the expense of Arsenal, Hakimi himself accompanied his lawyer Fanny Colan to appeal before the judiciary the decision to refer him to trial on charges of raping a young woman in February 2023.
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The French judiciary is scheduled to issue its decision on Friday, that is, on the day of Morocco’s second match in the 2026 World Cup against Scotland in Foxborough, near Boston.
Despite this sword hanging over his head and the seriousness of the accusations, the player who denies the facts does not seem affected, completely focused on continuing his athletic development and the progress of the “Atlas Lions.”
Four years ago in Qatar, Hakimi was one of his country’s most prominent weapons, but without the responsibilities of a leader. This time, the 27-year-old right-back started the tournament with the captaincy, bearing some of the pressure associated with a team that reached the semi-finals in the previous edition.
Change of outlook
As the first African representative in history to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, Morocco can no longer hide, and the same applies to Hakimi, who is considered the best player in the world in his position after five successful seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, which culminated in him winning the Champions League twice in a row (2025 and 2026).
It is certain that the outlook towards the native of the Spanish capital and graduate of its club Real Madrid has changed.
Morocco’s first match against Brazil (1-1) on June 14 in East Rutherford (New Jersey) confirmed the new ambitions. Hakimi was on time, maintaining his role between defense and midfield, which is the same role he plays at his club under the leadership of Spaniard Luis Enrique.
“A promising and challenging start,” he wrote after the match on social media, in a post that reflects the great confidence that the Saint-Germain player has in himself and in his team.
“We are ready to achieve something big, with the confidence and support of all Moroccans. I believe we will be at the level of this World Cup and we will start well in tomorrow’s match,” he added before facing the five-time world champion “Seleção.”
Repeated injuries
This season, Hakimi is credited with his ability to recover quickly, after suffering two severe injuries. The first was in the ankle, before the 2025 African Cup of Nations on home soil, which caused widespread concern in the Kingdom, and the second in the thigh a month before the Champions League final, which raised fears among Saint-Germain fans about the absence of one of the team’s pillars weeks before the decisive date.
Both times, he returned at the right time to lead Morocco to win the African title, which was awarded to the host country after the decision of the Appeals Committee of the Confederation of African Football at the expense of the Senegal team, which won on the field (1-0 after extra time).
He also started with Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final, without hesitation from Enrique, and played the full 120 minutes, and even scored the fourth penalty kick for his team (1-1 after extra time, 4-3 on penalties).
Hakimi must now continue his rising form with the “Atlas Lions” against Scotland. Even now, there is no room for doubt in his dictionary.
