The Netherlands suffers historic third consecutive shootout heartbreak

ByKehinde-Hassan Afolabi

The Netherlands fell victim to their recurring penalty shootout curse, getting eliminated from the World Cup on spot-kicks for a third consecutive tournament appearance after a 1–1 draw with Morocco.

The Netherlands’ historical vulnerability from twelve yards proved fatal yet again as they crashed out of the 2026 World Cup Round of 32.

Holding a narrow lead late on via Cody Gakpo, the Oranje conceded a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer to Morocco before crumbling 3–2 in the ensuing shootout, ruthlessly exposing the nation’s psychological kryptonite on football’s grandest international platform.

The heartbreaking exit marks a painful trend of spot-kick disasters, cementing the third consecutive World Cup tournament where the Dutch have been eliminated via a shootout.

Having suffered identical semifinal and quarterfinal fates against Argentina in 2014 and 2022 respectively, Ronald Koeman’s side departs North America burdened by a persistent penalty curse that continues to devastate generations of Dutch talent.

Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi is a football journalist whose deep tactical understanding of the game makes him a standout, captivating audiences across print, audio, and video. His poetic background brings a unique rhythm and depth to his work, seamlessly transforming analysis into artistry. With a knack for narration and research, he captures the drama of the game beyond tactics and statistics, making each piece of his; a compelling blend of insight and storytelling.

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