Netherlands, Morocco meet in one of the Round of 32’s most anticipated matches
Two teams with legitimate ambitions of making a deep World Cup run will collide Monday night when the Netherlands faces Morocco in arguably the most evenly matched fixture of the FIFA World Cup Round of 32.
With a berth in the Round of 16 at stake, there is no margin for error.
Match Information
- Match: Netherlands vs. Morocco
- Date: Monday, June 29
- Kickoff: 9 p.m. ET
- Venue: Estadio Monterrey (BBVA Stadium), Monterrey, Mexico
- TV (U.S.): FOX, FS1 (English), Telemundo (Spanish)
- Streaming: FOX One, FOX Sports App, Peacock (Spanish), Fubo, Sling TV and DirecTV Stream
- Radio: SiriusXM FC and FIFA World Cup radio partners.
The Netherlands enters the knockout stage after winning Group F with seven points, opening with a draw against Japan before convincing victories over Sweden and Tunisia. Morocco finished second in Group C with seven points, drawing Brazil before defeating Scotland and Haiti to book another trip to the knockout rounds.
By the numbers
| Category | Netherlands | Morocco |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Ranking | No. 6 | No. 12 |
| Group Stage Finish | 1st (Group F) | 2nd (Group C) |
| Group Stage Points | 7 | 7 |
| Group Stage Record | 2-1-0 | 2-1-0 |
| World Cup Titles | 0 | 0 |
| Best World Cup Finish | Runners-up (1974, 1978, 2010) | Fourth place (2022) |
Players to watch
The Dutch attack is loaded with talent. Cody Gakpo continues to be one of the tournament’s most dangerous forwards, while Brian Brobbey, Frenkie de Jong and captain Virgil van Dijk provide the balance and experience expected from one of Europe’s traditional powers.
Morocco has become much more than a Cinderella story. The Atlas Lions continue to build on their historic 2022 World Cup semifinal run behind star right back Achraf Hakimi, dynamic midfielder Ismael Saibari and rising youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi. Their speed, organization and confidence make them one of the tournament’s most dangerous dark horses.
What’s at stake?
This feels like a match worthy of the quarterfinals rather than the opening knockout round.
The Netherlands remains unbeaten in its last 15 World Cup matches decided in regulation or extra time, while Morocco has shown its remarkable 2022 run was no fluke by once again advancing from a difficult group.
Dutch manager Ronald Koeman called the matchup one that has arrived “too soon,” believing both teams are capable of making deep tournament runs. It’s difficult to argue.
Expect a tactical battle, plenty of pace on the wings and an electric atmosphere in Monterrey. By the end of Monday night, one of the tournament’s strongest contenders will be heading home much earlier than expected.
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