Hakimi booed in Morocco after quarter-final loss to France

Morocco lost 2-0 to France in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, repeating the exact same scenario as the 2022 semi-final. In the aftermath, captain Achraf Hakimi became the primary target of Moroccan supporters and media.

On the pitch, the PSG full-back delivered one of his most underwhelming performances in a national team shirt. While his duel with his club teammate Désiré Doué seemed balanced early on, Hakimi gradually faded from the match, unable to make an impact offensively down his flank. Usually formidable on set pieces, he displayed uncharacteristic sloppiness in this area, leaving numerous gaps behind him during French attacks.

Moroccan media outlet Le 360 Sport gave him a rating of 4.5/10, summing up his evening: “Much anticipated in this fixture, the captain of the Atlas Lions fell short of expectations. Often positioned very high up the pitch, he left plenty of space behind him and struggled to get back in time to defend against French attacks. Offensively, he also failed to make a difference down his flank.”

Criticism did not stop at his sporting performance. Hakimi was also targeted for his behavior at the final whistle: images show him smiling while greeting his Paris teammates just seconds after Morocco’s elimination. On social media, messages accusing him of “betrayal” quickly circulated, amplifying a controversy already fueled by tensions with Brahim Diaz following his missed penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final.

This elimination closes a mixed World Cup for the Atlas Lions, who had managed to reach the quarter-finals—a respectable result, but insufficient to erase the frustration of a second consecutive defeat to France on the world stage.