Is Netherlands out of the World Cup after loss to Morocco?

The Netherlands is going home from the World Cup earlier than expected.

After falling to Morocco on penalties in the round of 32 on Monday, June 29, the Dutch were eliminated from the tournament.

Morocco defeated the Netherlands 3-2 in a wild penalty shootout, which followed a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.

Cody Gakpo gave the Netherlands a 1-0 lead in the 72nd minute, and it appeared that goal would hold up as the game advanced to stoppage time.

But Issa Diop rescued Morocco with a 91st-minute header, sending the game into extra time. After a shootout that saw three players hit the woodwork, Morocco emerged victorious and moves on to face Canada in the round of 16.

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The defeat to Morocco was the third straight World Cup in which the Dutch have been eliminated on penalties.

The Netherlands lost to Argentina on penalties twice, first in the 2014 semifinals and again in the 2022 quarterfinals (the Dutch didn’t qualify in 2018).

The Netherlands has long been considered one of the best teams to never win a World Cup. It has made the semifinals five times and the final three times — losing in all three.

The Dutch wait for World Cup glory will go on for at least four more years.