Morocco Edges Haiti After a Big First Half

By Daniel Feuerstein | Atlanta, GA | June 24th, 2026

The final Group Stage match for both Morocco and Haiti in Group C was going to be a battle for pride. Yet Morocco was looking to earn first place in the group to help themselves be better than what Brazil was trying to do against Scotland. While Haiti was scrappy and gave Morocco a hell of a game, at the end of the 90 minutes, Morocco was able to edge the Caribbean island nation and took the match with the final score of four goals to two.

Haiti takes the lead in the opening 10 minutes

Haiti started on the front foot and attacked with purpose. They wanted to show the world they are a strong team and should have had a better World Cup. As they attacked down the far side, the long ball was sent and held. Then a trailer was running down the far side and was given the ball, a cross toward Lenny Joseph inside the area, and shot it on frame, but the ball hit the back of Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, and went in for an own goal in the 10th minute. Haiti’s third World Cup goal since their first tournament in 1974.

Hakimi rushes in to get the equalizer

Morocco was looking to get the equalizer and tried to get back into the game. They did get it when they attacked down the far side. Bilal El Khannouss received the ball and started to make his attacking run toward the Haitian net. As he entered the area, El Khannouss took the shot, and it was deflected off the defender, but it still gave Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide an issue. He got his right hand on the ball, but never stopped it. Coming in to tap it home was Achraf Hakimi, who scored while going into the net in the 39th minute.

Big Blast from long distance

Haiti was still attacking and creating opportunities to get themselves into position to create havoc and to get the lead back. It happened when they got possession around the far side of the pitch. Jean-Kevin Duverne got the ball and started to look for a teammate to pass the ball to. He found Wilson Isidor, who was wide open, and from 21 yards away, blasts the ball across the face of goal into the upper back post in the 43rd minute. Haiti’s fourth-ever World Cup goal as the Island nation was celebrating.

Morocco’s own blast for a second equalizer

As the match was entering first half stoppage time, Morocco continued to look for a second equalizer and found it very fast. Hakimi was attacking down the near side of the pitch and saw space inside the area. He took a long cross toward Brahim Diaz, but he decided to let the ball go across his path as he heard Ismael Saibari screaming for the ball. When Saibari got to the ball, he smashed it hard inside the front post inside the first minute of five in first half stoppage time.

Morocco finally goes ahead

Morocco earned a corner along the far side. As the ball was delivered, it landed inside the air as Chadi Riad knocked it down with his head. The ball magically went toward Soufiane Rahimi, and he possessed the ball. With a defender on him, Rahimi took a step or two back, then created a turnaround shot and somehow ripped it to the upper far 90 and scored the go-ahead goal in the 78th minute to give Morocco the lead for the first time in the match.

VAR Technology says the ball was still in

Towards the back end of the match, Morocco was still looking for another goal to make it a two-goal lead. There was an issue towards the end line by Haiti’s net as the defender and the attacker were trying to get control of the ball. From live play, it looked like the ball was completely over the line and out, but the Morocco attacker thought he kept it in play. Was allowed to make a pass toward Gessime Yassine and got a free shot as Placide never made a move to make a save. The ball went into the net, and Morocco celebrated while Haiti began an argument. After VAR used new technology to view if the entire ball was completely in or out. After a few moments, VAR confirmed the goal was good and scored it in the 89th minute.

Haiti played strongly and did well

While it’s three and out for Haiti, without a doubt, they made their presence in this edition of the World Cup well known. They gave it their all, and they challenged Morocco in their final group stage match. Two exciting goals and a solid performance from the Caribbean side, but the quality of Morocco shone the brightest for them. The hope now is for Haiti to try again for a new World Cup Cycle and attempt another qualification in the confederation of CONCACAF.

Haiti gave Morocco some fits, but at the end of the day, Morocco found a way to win the match in the 20926 FIFA World Cup

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