Following Morocco’s 4–2 victory over Haiti last night in the third round of the 2026 World Cup (Morocco vs. Haiti video highlights), FIFA named the Player of the Match. Achraf Hakimi, the 27-year-old right-back for Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco, won the award.
With a goal and an assist—on top of his usual impressive work rate—Hakimi seems like a thoroughly deserving choice, even though there were other contenders amidst Morocco’s strong collective performance, despite a few lapses in concentration.
It is always a confidence boost for a player to be recognized in this way, even if the team’s result is ultimately what matters most. Morocco sits second in their group and must await the outcomes of the Netherlands vs. Tunisia and Sweden vs. Japan matches to learn their next opponent: the winner of that group.
