Morocco World Cup Win Sparks Joy and Clashes in Hague

MOROCCO – (Web Desk) – Morocco’s World Cup win against the Netherlands set off wild celebrations across Dutch cities on Tuesday, especially in The Hague, where a large Moroccan community lives. The joy soon turned into tension when police clashed with some fans.

In the Schilderswijk area of the city, crowds wrapped in Moroccan flags danced and sang in the streets. Car horns rang out non-stop, and firecrackers lit up the early morning sky as fans celebrated together.

Hundreds of supporters gathered at a busy crossroads in the neighborhood. They kicked footballs into the air, cheered with strangers, and even climbed onto passing cars during the excitement.

About an hour into the celebration, the mood shifted. Riot police moved in with water cannons and used batons to push the crowd back and clear the streets.

Several young men were detained during the chaos. Officers held some of them down and struck their legs with batons before placing them in handcuffs and driving them away in police vans.

Police on bicycles chased groups of young people through nearby streets in a back-and-forth pursuit. Despite the tension, there was no serious damage reported in the area.

Many people at the scene refused to speak with reporters. Several wore masks or face coverings to keep their identities hidden during the celebrations and unrest.

The match itself, played in Monterrey, ended in a tense 1-1 draw after extra time, pushing the game into a nerve-wracking penalty shootout between both sides.

After a few missed attempts from both teams, Morocco’s Ismael Saibari calmly struck the winning penalty. The PSV Eindhoven player sent his country through to face co-hosts Canada in the next round.