Angus Gunn used his foot to keep Hakimi out at 18 minutes, the clearest chance in a first half that had already tilted toward Morocco national football team. Scotland stayed in the game, but Morocco created the better openings and kept Scotland pinned back for long spells.
Morocco and Scotland in Massachusetts
The World Cup 2026 kick-off came at 6pm local time, 11pm BST and 8am AEST, and Morocco started with more control than Scotland could manage. At 5 minutes they looked comfortable, then at 7 minutes Scotland finally broke forward through McGinn, only for Morocco to reset the pressure.
By 9 minutes, Moroccan fans were making the loudest noise, and the match picture followed that atmosphere. At 10 minutes, Ounahi fizzed the ball across goal and Saibari and Diaz just failed to read it, a chance that showed how quickly Morocco were getting into dangerous areas.
Hakimi and the Scotland line
Scotland had five at the back, but Morocco still found room. At 12 minutes, Saibari was causing problems and Hakimi was allowed to overlap, which left Scotland defending deeper and narrower than they would have wanted. That shape held for a while, but it did not stop Morocco from asking the sharper questions.
Gunn’s foot save at 18 minutes mattered because it came after Morocco had already made the better start and after the early pattern had repeated itself. Hakimi had broken into the space Scotland were trying to protect, and Gunn had to react low and fast to stop the ball from dribbling in.
Pressure before the break
The pressure kept building after that. Issa Diop was booked for a cynical pull-back at 23 minutes, a foul that came from Scotland’s need to slow the game down as Morocco continued to move the ball forward.
A hydration and advertising break was then announced at 24 minutes, and it arrived with Morocco still on top and Scotland still trying to settle possession. For Scotland, the immediate job is plain: get more time on the ball, stop Hakimi and the runners around him, and use the break to reset before Morocco turn another half-chance into the opener.
