The qualification of Morocco to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, after eliminating the Netherlands on penalties, caused completely opposite scenes in both countries. While thousands of people celebrated in the streets of Morocco, in various Dutch cities the celebrations of the Moroccan community ended in serious disturbances that required a significant police intervention.
The most serious incidents occurred in the Schilderswijk neighborhood, in The Hague, an area with a significant Moroccan population. There, the celebrations for the advancement escalated into clashes that required the deployment of riot units and water cannons.
The police of The Hague reported that "during the celebration of Morocco's victory, disturbances arose in the vicinity of Schilderswijk". Additionally, they detailed: "Heavy fireworks were fired, and fireworks and stones were also thrown at the officers. The riot unit has made charges and the water cannon has been deployed".
Authorities also confirmed that several people were arrested for engaging in violent acts during the celebrations. According to the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, operations extended to other parts of the country to prevent new clashes between supporters of both teams.
And the tension was not limited to The Hague. In Rotterdam, the police also had to intervene to clear one of the city's main arteries and put an end to the celebrations that had overwhelmed the security operation.
The contrast with this tense atmosphere was absolute compared to what happened in Morocco itself. In both Rabat and Casablanca, thousands of fans took to the streets to celebrate a historic qualification with flags, flares, fireworks, honking, and chants that lasted until dawn without major incidents.
Euphoria erupted as soon as Ismael Saibari converted the decisive penalty that sealed Morocco's victory. Despite the time of the match and the fact that many had to start their workday just a few hours later, fans flooded the streets to celebrate the advancement to the round of 16, where the "Lions of the Atlas" will face Canada next Saturday, July 4, at NRG Stadium in Houston with the aim of continuing to fuel their World Cup dream and repeating, or even surpassing, the historic performance achieved in Qatar 2022.
