In the Netherlands, the World Cup last-32 tie between the Netherlands and Morocco was always going to be about more than football. When the Atlas Lions eliminated Ronald Koeman's team in a dramatic penalty shootout, joyous celebrations erupted among the Moroccan community in Amsterdam at 6am. In The Hague, however, the atmosphere turned grim as police were pelted with bottles and fireworks.
Background of Dual Loyalty
Approximately 440,000 people of Moroccan descent live in the Netherlands, and many were asked before the match: “So who will you support, then?” The question was mostly good-natured. Former Netherlands manager Ron Jans showed genuine interest when posing the dilemma to pundit Ibrahim Afellay on Dutch national television. Afellay, capped 53 times for the Netherlands, explained his support for Morocco. In the real world, the most common reaction was understanding, regardless of which side people chose.
Political Tensions
Things are different online, stirred up by far-right politician Geert Wilders, who has spent 20 years attacking Muslims and the Moroccan community. In 2014, he promised to reduce the number of Moroccans in the country. Two weeks before the match, he tweeted an anti-Islam insult in response to a picture of Morocco players praying on the pitch. Before the game, he posted an AI image on X showing himself as a referee giving a red card to a Morocco player.
The rise of Wilders and other right-wing populist parties has been cited by Dutch-Moroccan players as a reason for increasingly siding with Morocco. Afellay chose to represent the Netherlands, but his successors haven't. Koeman's squad is multicultural, but it has been over a decade since anyone of Moroccan heritage wore the orange kit. Three Morocco squad members—Noussair Mazraoui, Sofyan Amrabat, and Anass Salah-Eddine—were born in the Netherlands but chose to play for Morocco. Right-wing politicians decried this as a lack of loyalty.
Post-Match Incidents
An hour after Morocco's victory, Dutch public broadcaster NOS reported that police were pelted with bottles and fireworks in The Hague. Regional news station Omroep West said at least 10 people believed to be Morocco fans were arrested for attacking police. Algemeen Dagblad reported four arrests in Rotterdam without stating reasons. Wilders used X to congratulate Morocco on their triumph.
Peaceful Celebrations in Amsterdam
In Amsterdam's west end, an area with a sizable Moroccan population, things stayed peaceful. A Dutch-Moroccan-owned cafe was decorated with orange flags. Some bars stayed open for the 3am kick-off, but others didn't. At the events venue Het Sieraad, roughly a quarter of about 200 spectators backed Morocco, causing no problems with those supporting the Netherlands. Women in headscarves sang the Dutch anthem; lads in orange shirts clapped Morocco's anthem.
During the match, Morocco showed why players want to represent them: they are a great side, ranked sixth in FIFA, one place above the Netherlands. They were semi-finalists at the previous World Cup and were superior in this match.
Match Drama
Morocco's wastefulness almost cost them. When Cody Gakpo put the Netherlands ahead on the break, emotions ran high—Gakpo's unborn son died last week. But Issa Diop's thundering header leveled in stoppage time. Elated Morocco supporters went outside for a cigarette before extra time. Although Morocco remained a class above, they couldn't land the decisive blow before the shootout. Ismael Saibari, the best player in the Dutch league last season with PSV, converted the decisive spot-kick, sending Morocco fans wild.
Aftermath
Pubs and venues emptied as a new day dawned in broad sunshine. Dozens of Moroccans got into their cars, and within minutes, car horns formed a soundtrack in Amsterdam. Fans waved flags through windows. Dutch fans were graceful in defeat, congratulating opponents, exchanging hugs, and pledging to support Morocco for the remainder of the tournament. A few police officers were deployed at Mercatorplein square, site of past violence after Morocco games, but there was none this morning. In Amsterdam, it was pure joy after a feast of football.
