World Cup 2026: Soufiane Rahimi reveals reason behind emotional celebration against Haiti

Soufiane Rahimi has revealed that criticism he faced before Morocco’s match against Haiti was behind the emotions he showed after scoring in the Atlas Lions’ victory.

The forward broke down in tears after finding the net during Morocco’s win, before later explaining that the moment was connected to the pressure and comments he had experienced in recent days.

Rahimi, who came off the bench in the second half, made a major impact on the match by scoring Morocco’s third goal before assisting the fourth as the Atlas Lions secured qualification for the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup.

After the final whistle, the Al Ain forward thanked those who had continued to support him throughout his career.

“I thank everyone who has supported me from the beginning of my career until today. I thank my family and the Moroccan public for the trust they have placed in me,” he said.

When asked about his emotional reaction after scoring, Rahimi explained that the tears were linked to the criticism he had received and issues beyond football.

“Those close to me know the reason. I’ve been subjected to some criticism and things that had nothing to do with football. Thank God, Soufiane always responds on the pitch,” he said.

The Morocco international also highlighted the difficulty of earning a place in the national team due to the level of competition within the squad.

“It’s not easy to earn a place in the Moroccan team with a generation that possesses so much talent and will contribute even more to Moroccan football. I ask the fans to continue supporting the entire group,” he added.

Rahimi’s performance against Haiti provided a response on the pitch after a period of pressure. His contribution helped Morocco continue their strong campaign and secure progress to the knockout stage of the tournament.

The forward’s ability to influence the match after coming on demonstrated his importance to the squad, as Morocco continue their pursuit of success at the World Cup.