World Cup 2026: Van der Vaart bow to Morocco after Netherlands exit

Former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart has admitted that Morocco fully deserved their qualification to the next round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the Atlas Lions eliminated the Netherlands in a dramatic Round of 32 encounter.

Van der Vaart, who had earlier questioned Morocco’s chances before the match, changed his stance completely after witnessing the North African side dominate large portions of the contest against the Oranje.

The highly entertaining clash ended 1-1 after regular and extra time before Morocco secured a 3-2 victory in the penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou once again emerging as the hero for the Atlas Lions.

Speaking on Dutch television channel NOS after the match, Van der Vaart openly acknowledged Morocco’s superiority throughout the encounter.

“Honestly, Morocco deserved to qualify. The Moroccans were the better team from the first minute,” the former Netherlands midfielder admitted.

He did not hide his disappointment with the Dutch performance and described the display from the Oranje as one of their poorest in recent times.

“I was very disappointed. It was a very bad game for the Netherlands,” Van der Vaart added.

“It’s true that you took the lead and then started believing that with a little luck you would qualify, but Morocco were simply the better team.”

Van der Vaart also criticized the Dutch midfield performance, particularly that of Frenkie de Jong, who struggled to cope with Morocco’s intensity and pressure in the middle of the park.

“De Jong had the worst game I’ve ever seen him play,” he said.

The former Real Madrid and Tottenham midfielder suggested that Morocco’s dominance in midfield played a major role in the Dutch team’s struggles during the game.

Morocco impressed throughout the match with their aggressive pressing, quick transitions and strong organization, preventing the Netherlands from controlling possession for long periods.

The Atlas Lions eventually forced extra time through Issa Diop’s dramatic stoppage-time equaliser before holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to seal qualification.

The victory further strengthened Morocco’s reputation as one of the standout teams of the tournament, with Walid Regragui’s side now preparing for a Round of 16 showdown against Canada.