2026 World Cup: Riots in The Hague After Morocco's Penalty Shootout Victory Over the Netherlands

The Dutch police spoke of sporadic clashes. Officers were deployed to control the crowds on the streets. Videos on social media showed fireworks, overturned objects, and smaller groups moving toward one another.

Historic Figures on the Pitch

FIFA World Cups have repeatedly caused tensions in cities with large immigrant communities in the past. The responsible authorities had positioned an increased contingent in the run-up to the match. Police announced they would continue to monitor the situation.

Parallel to the unrest, the 2026 World Cup is on a record course sportingly. A total of 215 goals were scored in the group stage, an average of 2.92 per match. The figure from 1958 (3.6 goals per game) has therefore not yet been reached, but the mark from 1970 has been surpassed.

Spain and Brazil on the Rise

Spain finished the group stage as winner of the group and faces Brazil in the round of 16. Record world champions Brazil had previously prevailed 2:1 against Japan and thus advanced to the knockout round. Spain's King Felipe VI visited the team and set out a clear objective.

Uruguay was eliminated from the tournament after a 0:1 loss to Spain. Coach Marcelo Bielsa drew a self-critical balance: "My time will be remembered as a phase that left nothing behind," said the 70-year-old Argentine. The newspaper "El Observador" spoke of a "harsh reality check" and sharply criticized Bielsa's leadership style. Reports indicated that senior players around captain Fede Valverde had complained about training management and tactics.

Uruguay and the Netherlands on the Brink

On the Dutch team, the elimination also left its mark. National team coach Ronald Koeman defended his tactical approach with five defenders against the criticism following the defeat. "Now I'm being criticized because I played with five defenders," said Koeman. He made no decision on the matter.

Outside the European venues, the World Cup also proceeded turbulently. South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung demanded consequences after his team's group-stage elimination: The elimination was downright "absurd." South Korean police announced tightened security measures for the team's return, as death threats against the coach had been received.

Controversies Beyond the Pitch

Japan's national team coach Hajime Moriyasu is meanwhile intensively preparing his team for the round of 32. Following the disappointing 2022 elimination in a penalty shootout against Croatia, Moriyasu has this time taken the decision over the penalty takers into his own hands: "Now I'm the one who decides!" said the 57-year-old. "I was not able to bring out the players' potential," he had previously admitted.

Sharp criticism of the world federation came from the Iranian camp. Captain Mehdi Taremi called the conditions at the World Cup a "catastrophe World Cup." "That is the responsibility of FIFA," said Taremi: "They have to solve every small problem here, but ours they could not solve from the start."

England is meanwhile looking at a historic goal record by Harry Kane. The Bayern striker scored his eleventh World Cup goal in the final group match against Panama, surpassing Gary Lineker, who had previously stood at ten goals. Kane is already successful at his third World Cup.

Off the pitch as well, the World Cup made headlines. Dutch striker Cody Gakpo shared that his second son had died during his girlfriend Noa's pregnancy. "This is an incredibly difficult time for our family," wrote the 27-year-old. His club and the federation expressed their condolences.

Sensations and Records

Cape Verde caused a sensation by advancing to the round of 16 in its first World Cup participation. With a 0:0 draw against Saudi Arabia, the island nation's team advanced to the knockout round. President Santiago Peña declared a national holiday in Paraguay after the team advanced to the round of 16 against the German squad.

The organizers meanwhile recorded a spectator record in the group stage. 4,644,549 visitors came to the 16 stadiums. FIFA also registered 2.8 million beers sold and almost one million bottles of water sold. For the venues, the world federation drew a positive conclusion.

France's national team coach Didier Deschamps returned to the USA after a short break and is preparing his team for the round of 32 against Sweden. On the federation's Instagram page, he delivered a passionate address to his players: "Every game could be the last," said Deschamps.

Police Response

In the German team, the signs meanwhile point to departure. Following the elimination in the penalty shootout against Paraguay, the 63-year-old national team coach drew consequences and announced that he would calmly consider his future. "I will calmly consider my future," said the coach.

Scotland's coach Steve Clarke resigned after the 0:3 loss to Brazil and the missed round of 16 qualification. "Our most successful national team coach has decided, after seven years, on the end of his time with us," the Scottish federation announced.

Following the riots in The Hague, police announced that they would continue to monitor the situation and intervene consistently in the event of new unrest. The World Cup authorities emphasized that such incidents must not compromise the security situation at the upcoming matches.