Hakimi soccer now has a legal shadow attached to it. Achraf Hakimi is set to walk out as Morocco’s captain against Canada on July 4 at 10 a.m. Pacific while a rape case against him has been sent to trial in France.
The move comes after the Versailles Court of Appeal ruled on June 19 that there was sufficient evidence to send him to trial. Hakimi said, "I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it."
Versailles Court of Appeal ruling
The case began in February 2023, when a then-24-year-old woman told French police she had been raped at Hakimi’s home outside Paris. Days later, he was formally placed under investigation. Over the next three years, he fought to have the case thrown out while collecting trophies and roughly $97 million in salary.
Hakimi has denied the accusation in public statements, including a 2025 podcast appearance, a Canal+ documentary, and posts on X. After the June 19 ruling, he said, "I chose to remain silent for years." He also said, "Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth."
Mohamed Ouahbi backs Hakimi
Morocco manager Mohamed Ouahbi has publicly called Hakimi "extraordinary" and "the best right-back in the world" while the defendant remains on the World Cup stage. That backing sits beside the legal reality now moving toward a criminal trial in France.
Hakimi’s accuser told Mediapart that she has felt "alone, unsupported and not understood" and wants a trial "to defend myself, to be heard." The case is expected to go to the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court this fall, but no date has been set.
Scottish supporters in Boston booed Hakimi every time he touched the ball during Morocco’s earlier win over Scotland. On July 4, the attention shifts to Canada, and the same player steps into the match with the legal process already in motion.
Canada and the World Cup
That overlap is the story now: a captain’s job, a World Cup fixture, and a criminal case moving toward trial at the same time. The sporting part is straightforward. The legal part is now headed into court.
