Published on 6/28/2026
The fellowship of five Moroccan players with five Dutch players turns into a noble sporting rivalry, when the two teams meet on Monday at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico, in a decisive confrontation in order to reserve a ticket to the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The match bears an exceptional character, not only for its sporting value, but also for the long-standing relationships between a number of players who have teamed up with each other in major European clubs over the past years.
Read also
list of 2 itemsend of list
Yesterday’s colleagues are today’s opponents
The match brings together a group of players who wore the same shirt in previous times, before they find themselves today in a direct confrontation on the World Cup field.
Ismail Saibari, the top scorer for the Moroccan national team in the current edition with three goals, along with his compatriot Anas Salah El-Din and midfielder Jos Thiel, won the Dutch League title with PSV Eindhoven only a few weeks ago, in a scene that reflects the depth of the bonds between the players.
Moroccan left-back Noussair Mazraoui also previously played alongside a number of Dutch national team stars, including Frenkie de Jong and Rein Kravenberg during their time at Ajax Amsterdam. Kravenberg also later played for Bayern Munich.
In another context, Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi had a previous football relationship with Dutch striker Donyiel Malen during their time at Borussia Dortmund, while Sofiane Amrabat partnered with player Noah Lange during their professional period at Belgian Club Brugge.
Despite these previous relations, Moroccan captain Achraf Hakimi stressed that the atmosphere inside the stadium is completely different from outside it, stressing that there is no place for friendships in official matches.
Hakimi, who previously faced his Paris Saint-Germain teammate Marquinhos in Brazil’s opening match, which ended in a draw, explained that he respects all his former teammates, but puts the interest of the Moroccan national team above any personal considerations.
Saibari and Salah: Facing friends is a special experience
For his part, Ismail Sibari expressed his happiness at the possibility of meeting his former colleagues, noting that the meeting will be a special and distinguished experience on a personal level.
Saibari said that facing Jos Thiel would be nice, adding that he was looking forward to seeing some friends on the field, but at the same time he was focusing on the instructions of the technical staff and tactical preparation for the match.
As for Anas Salah El-Din, he expressed the same feelings, describing the confrontation as wonderful and difficult at the same time, stressing that he will face his best friends, but in the end he will represent his country with pride.
The draw for the tournament put Morocco in a fiery confrontation with the Netherlands, after the Moroccan national team faced Brazil in the first round of the group stage, in a match that ended in a positive draw.
The Dutch team topped its sixth group, setting up a strong match with the Moroccan team in one of the most prominent confrontations in the qualifying round.
The match carries great importance for both teams, as the Dutch team seeks to overcome the complex of losing three finals in its history, while Morocco aspires to continue its historic march after occupying fourth place in the previous edition, and attempt to reach the final for the first time in its history.
A confrontation described as a “derby” outside the borders
The media and public circles described the confrontation as similar to a Moroccan-Dutch “derby”, in light of the presence of a large Moroccan community in the capital, Amsterdam, which includes more than seventy thousand citizens of Moroccan origins, which enhances the special public character of the match.
This presence increases the heat of the match, in light of the cultural and social interaction between the two countries, which in turn is reflected on the field.
For his part, Dutch team captain Virgil van Dijk expressed his respect for the strength of the Moroccan team, noting at the same time that there are some weaknesses that can be exploited.
As for coach Ronald Koeman, he focused his statements on the tactical aspects, stressing that facing Morocco requires full focus on his team’s performance, warning against retreating during periods of the match because this could cause great danger.
Koeman revealed that he was busy with the next match against Morocco even while facing Tunisia, indicating the amount of focus on this decisive match.
He added that the Moroccan national team has distinguished elements, led by Achraf Hakimi, whom he described as the main star and excellent right-back, stressing the need to prepare well to face him.
The confrontation carries the character of revenge for the Moroccan national team, which lost its only official match against the Netherlands in the 1994 World Cup, with a score of two goals to one in the group stage.
The Moroccan national team hopes to continue its historic journey, inspired by its experience in the last edition, which witnessed it reaching the semi-finals after eliminating major teams, before its journey stopped against France.
Moroccan national team coach Mohamed Wehbe praised the players’ performance in the tournament, stressing that the team is experiencing a new phase of confidence and ambition.
Wehbe said, “The Moroccan national team has come to believe in the possibility of winning the title, in light of great public support and increasing confidence within the group,” adding that the goal is no longer merely participating, but rather reaching the furthest possible point and perhaps winning the title.
Between the fellowship of the past and the rivalry of the present, Morocco and the Netherlands enter into a heavy-caliber confrontation, the title of which is tactics, skill and shared memories, but its outcome will only be decided inside the green rectangle, in a match that the Arab and European world alike are waiting for.
