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GUADALUPE, MEXICO – JUNE 29: Achraf Hakimi #2 of Morocco reacts to his shot hitting the crossbar during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between the Netherlands and Morocco at Monterrey Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Guadalupe, Mexico. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
On July 4 at 10 a.m. PT, Ashraf Hakimi will captain Morocco to face Canada in the biggest Atlas Lions World Cup game and one of the biggest in Canadian soccer history. He will do this while he is formally charged with rape and awaits a criminal trial in France.
That controversy is at the heart of a scathing piece by Toronto Star writer Joe Callaghan, who used Morocco’s previous win over Scotland to ask a question the tournament seems determined to avoid: Is Hakimi even worth playing?
A trial, a trophy case and a question that no one wants to answer
Callaghan’s article begins not with football, but with crowd noise. Scottish fans in Boston booed Hakimi every time he touched the ball, and ITV analyst Ally McCoist admitted midway through the broadcast that he didn’t know why.
What he did, or is accused of, dates back to February 2023, when a 24-year-old woman told French police she had been raped at Hakimi’s home near Paris. A few days later, Hakimi was officially placed under investigation.
He has spent the three years since fighting to dismiss the case, while continuing to collect trophies and an estimated $97 million in salary during that time.
That fight ended on June 19 when France’s Versailles Court of Appeal ruled there was enough evidence to send Hakimi to trial. Reporting by Tom Burrows Athletic fills in the legal mechanics: Unlike the UK Crown Prosecution Service model, French investigative judges examine the evidence for and against a suspect before deciding whether to proceed with a case. Six judges, according to prosecutor’s lawyer Rachel-Flore Pardo, agreed that the evidence was strong enough to bring charges.
A trial date has not yet been set, although it is expected to take place this fall at the Hauts-de-Seine criminal court.
Read more: Morocco 2026 World Cup squad: club team, ages for all 26 players
Defense, prosecutor and future of Achraf Hakimi
GettyMorocco No. 02 defender Achraf Hakimi reacts after missing a chance during the 2026 World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Morocco at New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Mauro PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Hakimi has never shied away from denial, and Burrow’s reporting carries that stance through several public statements – a podcast appearance in 2025, a Canal+ documentary and posts on X. His full response followed the June 19 decision and is worth reading in his own words:
“Justice looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there wouldn’t be any case.’
I decided to remain silent for many years. I thought that maintaining my dignity, patience and trust in the justice system would allow me to make the right decisions.
Today, a story that is not mine is told at the expense of my family, my life and, above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’m an easy target.
I have been waiting for this trial from day one. And now I’m looking forward to it.
Finally I can speak.”
His accuser, who has remained largely silent, has also broken that silence, telling French outlet Mediapart that she feels “alone, unsupported and misunderstood” and that she simply wants a trial “to protect herself, to be heard.”
For now, Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi has offered nothing but support, calling Hakimi “outstanding” and “the best right-back in the world.”
Time will tell what happens to Hakimi when he goes to trial, but for now he will appear against Canada.
Isaac Zuniga is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and Buffalo Bills. He has also covered major sporting events including the 2026 Super Bowl, 2026 Winter Olympics and 2026 World Cup. More about Isaac Zunig