The Netherlands meet Morocco tonight as they have their World Cup ambitions seriously tested in a blockbuster round of 32 clash.
Morocco, who remarkably reached the semi-finals in 2022, are out to prove that stunning run was no fluke this year, with the Africa Cup of Nations champions impressing in their opening draw with Brazil before beating Scotland and Haiti to qualify as Group C runners-up.
Ronald Koeman’s side have meanwhile found their groove after drawing their opener with Japan, scoring a combined eight goals in emphatic wins over Sweden and Tunisia as they topped their group.
The Dutch are the most infamous international heavyweight to have never won a World Cup but could make a statement towards ending that wait against the Atlas Lions.
Follow all of the latest updates from Morocco vs Netherlands in the World Cup round of 32 below:
Read MoreWelcome to the real World Cup – the tournament begins now
The Morocco blueprint helping to rewrite World Cup history for Africa
World Cup injury tracker: Neymar, Mohamed Salah and Reece James updates
Morocco vs Netherlands live updates
- Morocco face the Netherlands in a blockbuster World Cup last-32 clash | Kick-off at 2am BST, live on ITV1
- Netherlands topped their group while Morocco finished runners-up to Brazil
- Both teams are ranked inside the top 10 in the world by Fifa
- Morocco XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari
- Netherlands XI: Verbruggen; van Hecke, van Dijk, van de Ven; Dumfries, de Jong; Gravenberch, Ake; Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.
Team news
00:47 , Chris WilsonJust the two changes for the Netherlands after their win over Tunisia. One is in defence, where Micky van de Ven returns in place of Tijjani Reijnders as Ons Oranje move to a back five.
The other change is in attack, where Donyell Malen drops out in favour of Crysencio Summerville.
Line-ups
00:45 , Chris WilsonNetherlands XI: Verbruggen; van Hecke, van Dijk, van de Ven; Dumfries, de Jong; Gravenberch, Ake; Summerville, Brobbey, Gakpo.
Subs: Roefs, Flekken, Reijnders, Hato, Lang, Til, Wieffer, Weghorst, Kluivert, de Roon, Geertruida, Timber, Koopmeiners, Depay,, Malen.
Team news
00:40 , Chris WilsonMorocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi makes four changes to the side that beat Haiti in their final group game.
In defence, Noussair Mazraoui and Issa Diop return in place of Redouane Halhal and Anass Salah-Eddine.
In midfield, Sofyan Amrabat makes way for Ayyoub Bouaddi, while in attack Ayoub El Kaabi comes out in favour of Azzedine Ounahi, with Ismael Saibari moving to striker.
Line-ups
00:36 , Chris WilsonMorocco XI: Bounou; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; Bouaddi, El Aynaoui; Diaz, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari.
Subs: El Kajoui, Tagnaouti, Salah-Eddine, Belammari, Halhal, El Ouahdi, Saadane, El Mourabet, Amrabat, Talbi, Rahimi, El Kaabi, Gessime, Amaimouni, Sbai.
Équipe du Maroc (@EnMaroc) on X
Team news
00:30 , Chris WilsonLine-ups should be released any time now, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...
Brian Brobbey and Denzel Dumfries have slight knocks and, despite both being passed fit, are doubts to start for the Netherlands. Micky van de Ven should return at the expense of Nathan Ake.
Morocco have no injury concerns but should make plenty of changes from the team that started against Haiti with first choice players such as Noussair Mazraoui and Issa Diop returing to the line-up.
Last 32 results
00:24 , Chris WilsonWe’ve had two results from the last 32 so far, with co-hosts Canada sneaking past South Africa late on and Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil coming from behind to beat Japan 2-1 courtesy of a 96th-minute winner from Gabriel Martinelli.
Welcome to the real World Cup – the tournament begins now
00:12 , Chris WilsonAmong a lot of the most celebrated World Cup 2026 squads, coaches have already sought to ensure the intensity of training has gone up. There’s a new edge that only knockout football, and especially World Cup knockout football, can bring.
The Dutch squad perhaps put it best ahead of the most fascinating last-32 tie of all, against Morocco.
“It’s game on,” said Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke. “Now, the big games come.”
Welcome to the real World Cup – the tournament begins now
Two heavyweights clash in Monterrey
00:00 , Chris WilsonThese two sides are ranked sixth and seventh in the world in the latest Fifa rankings, though one of them will go crashing out of the World Cup this evening.
Morocco are ranked sixth as they look to make more World Cup history after making the semi-finals in 2022, while the Netherlands are looking to build on their semi-final exit at Euro 2024 as they look to make the latter rounds this summer.
Morocco's World Cup story
23:45 , Chris WilsonMorocco started their campaign with a respectable draw against Brazil in New Jersey, with Ismael Saibari netting in a tightly contested game.
Their second match saw another goal from Saibari, who scored within 70 seconds in what was the only goal in a 1-0 win.
And their final group match was a decidedly more entertaining affair, with the Atlas Lions beating Haiti 4-2 to secure their last-32 match-up with the Netherlands.
Netherlands power past Tunisia to seal top spot in World Cup group
23:40 , Chris WilsonThe report from last time out as the Netherlands powered into the last 32...
The Netherlands secured top spot in World Cup Group F after a commanding 3-1 victory over Tunisia in Kansas City. The Dutch side demonstrated their intent from the outset, establishing a two-goal lead within the opening seven minutes of the match.
Ronald Koeman’s team broke the deadlock in just the third minute when Tunisia’s Ellyes Skhiri inadvertently turned a cross into his own net. Moments later, Brian Brobbey doubled the advantage, tapping home a headed knockdown from Virgil van Dijk following a free-kick.
While the Netherlands appeared comfortable, Tunisia briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half. A corner found Hazem Mastouri, who headed the ball into the bottom-left corner, halving the deficit. However, the Dutch response was swift, with Jan Paul van Hecke restoring their two-goal cushion from a corner of his own.
Netherlands power past Tunisia to seal top spot in World Cup group
Who will the winner face?
23:26 , Chris WilsonThe winners of this tie will take on either Canada or South Africa in the last-16 with the teams due to meet on Saturday 4 July at Houston Stadium.
Predicted line-ups
23:21 , Chris WilsonNetherlands XI: Verbruggen; Dumfries, Van Dijk, Van Hecke, Van de Ven; Gravenberch, F de Jong, Reijnders; Malen, Brobbey, Gakpo
Morocco XI: Bono; Hakimi, Diop, Riad, Mazraoui; El Aynaoui, Bouaddi; Brahim, Ounahi, El Khannouss; Saibari
Team news
23:16 , Chris WilsonMorocco have no injury concerns but should make plenty of changes from the team that started against Haiti with first choice players such as Noussair Mazraoui and Issa Diop returing to the line-up.
Team news
23:13 , Chris WilsonBrian Brobbey and Denzel Dumfries have slight knocks and, despite both being passed fit, are doubts to start for the Netherlands. Micky van de Ven should return at the expense of Nathan Ake.
Dutch handed boost over Brobbey and Dumfries
23:13 , Jack RathbornThe Netherlands are set to start Denzel Dumfries and Brian Brobbey against Morocco in their World Cup last 32 tie.
The pair were carrying slight knocks, but Ronald Koeman is set to call on the duo to start at the Estadio Monterrey.
When is Netherlands v Morocco?
23:10 , Chris WilsonThe fixture will take place at Monterrey Stadium on Tuesday 30 June at 2am BST (6pm PT / 8pm CT / 9pm ET).
How can I watch it?
In the UK, the game will air live on ITV1 and ITV X. In the US, it will air live on Fox Sports.
Morocco vs Netherlands live
23:04 , Chris WilsonThe World Cup 2026 knockout rounds continue with fixtures from the last 32. Canada became the first team to reach the last-16 when they defeated South Africa on Sunday night but who will join them there?
The Netherlands are ramping up their momentum in this tournament after a slow start against Japan. Though the Dutch twice managed to get themselves ahead they were reeled in by the Japanese in a 2-2. Yet, their next two games were superb wins over Sweden and Tunisia. They scored eight goals across the two fixtures and have found their feet in the competition ahead of a testing last-32 opponent.
Morocco, meanwhile, finished second in Group C having been beaten to top spot by Brazil’s goal difference. The African champions defeated Haiti and Scotland in the group stages and earned a fine 1-1 draw against the Selecao. They reached the 2022 World Cup semi-finals and will be hoping for a lengthy run this time around too.
Good evening
22:58 , Chris WilsonHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of tonight’s World Cup round of 32 match between the Netherlands and Morocco.
The Dutch take on the African ‘champions’ in one of the most hotly anticipated matches of the tournament so far, with the Dutch slight favourites ahead of kick-off.
We’ll have all the latest team news and updates right here for you.
