Hakimi Takes the Pitch in Houston Under a Cloud of Accusation
HOUSTON – Achraf Hakimi, Morocco’s captain and one of the world’s finest fullbacks, will lead the Atlas Lions against Canada in the World Cup Round of 16 at NRG Stadium on July 4 at 1:00 p.m. ET. The match is a historic milestone for Canadian soccer and a crucial test for Morocco. But it unfolds against a stark backdrop: Hakimi is formally charged with rape in France and awaiting a criminal trial expected this fall.
The contradiction is impossible to ignore. On the pitch, Hakimi is a talisman. Off it, he is the subject of allegations that have followed him for three years. The Versailles Court of Appeal ruled on June 19 that sufficient evidence exists to send him to trial. As he stepped onto the field in Houston, the question posed by the Toronto Star’s Joe Callaghan echoed across the tournament: should he even be playing?
The Canada-Morocco Showdown
Morocco enters the match as a favorite, with Jonathan David to Lead Canada Attack vs Morocco in World Cup Round of 16 as Canada’s focal striker. Morocco counters with Ismael Saibari, who has scored 3 goals in the tournament. But much of the pre-match attention has centered on Hakimi’s legal status and the eerie silence from FIFA.
The Allegations and the Legal Journey
A Three-Year Case Reaches a Critical Point
The accusations date to February 2023, when a then-24-year-old woman told French police she was raped at Hakimi’s home outside Paris. Hakimi was placed under formal investigation days later. He has consistently denied the allegations, spending the intervening years fighting to have the case dismissed while continuing to collect trophies and roughly $97 million in salary.
According to reporting from The Athletic’s Tom Burrows, French investigating judges examined evidence for and against the suspect before deciding whether to proceed. Six judges agreed the evidence was strong enough to indict, a unanimous decision that the accuser’s lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, emphasized. No trial date has been set, but it is expected this fall in the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court.
The Boos in Boston
The issue became unavoidable during Morocco’s group stage match against Scotland in Boston. Scottish supporters booed Hakimi every time he touched the ball. ITV analyst Ally McCoist, unaware of the reason, remarked on air: “Not sure what Hakimi has done to upset the locals. But he’s done something.” The moment crystallized the growing unease: fans and media are increasingly unwilling to separate the player from the charges.
A Wider Pattern of Unanswered Questions
Multiple Players Face Allegations at the Same Tournament
Hakimi is not alone. Front Office Sports reports that three starters in the knockout rounds—Hakimi, Ghana’s Thomas Partey, and Cape Verde’s Ryan Mendes—are currently facing rape charges or active criminal investigations. Partey was denied entry into Canada for his team’s group stage match. Mendes is under investigation in New Zealand for allegedly raping a team liaison. All deny the allegations, and none have been found guilty.
FIFA’s response has been limited. In a statement about Mendes, the organization said it “takes any allegation of misconduct extremely seriously.” But critics, including Jennifer Simmons Kaleba of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), have called this a standard line that falls short. “Taking sexual assault charges seriously should also include creating and insisting upon environments where the behavior is neither tolerated nor swept under the rug,” she told Front Office Sports.
The Silence of the Game
Broadcasters have largely avoided the topic. During Morocco’s match, Fox’s Stu Holden called Hakimi the team’s “star man” before listing his accolades, with no mention of the trial. The contrast is stark: a player lauded on the world’s biggest stage while facing serious criminal allegations. The tournament’s organizing body has not commented on whether it has any policy for handling players under active criminal investigation.
What This Means for the Future of the Sport
The Uncomfortable Question That Won’t Go Away
The Hakimi case, alongside those of Partey and Mendes, forces a reckoning that soccer’s governing bodies have long avoided. In an era when athletes are celebrated as role models and brands, the gap between their on-field achievements and off-field conduct has become a chasm. The World Cup, as the sport’s pinnacle event, amplifies every contradiction.
RAINN’s Kaleba argued that organizations must move beyond statements. “Creating environments where behavior is neither tolerated nor swept under the rug” means more than a press release. It means clear protocols for players under investigation, transparency about legal proceedings, and a willingness to prioritize victims’ voices over commercial interests.
The Game Goes On
For now, the tournament proceeds. The Canada vs Morocco: World Cup 2026 Round of 16 Clash Live Today continues with Hakimi at the heart of the action. Bettors have even taken note—sportsbooks list Hakimi at +100 to register a shot on target, reflecting his attacking role despite the backdrop.
But the questions are not going away. When the final whistle blows in Houston, the debate about how soccer handles sexual violence allegations will only intensify. The World Cup may crown a champion in a few weeks, but the reckoning over players like Hakimi is just beginning.
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