Achraf Hakimi Ordered to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Campaign
Achraf Hakimi, the captain of Morocco and one of the most high-profile defenders in world football, has been ordered to stand trial for rape in France, casting a stark shadow over his World Cup campaign.
French prosecutors in Nanterre, on the western edge of Paris, confirmed that a trial has been mandated following a preliminary investigation that began in March 2023. The case centres on accusations from a woman who says Hakimi raped her at his home in the French capital in 2023, when she was 24.
An investigating judge ruled in February 2026 that the case should go to trial. French media report that Hakimi, now 27, recently failed in an appeal to have the proceedings dismissed.
No date has yet been set for the start of the trial.
Hakimi speaks out
Hakimi, who is set to lead Morocco into their second World Cup group match against Scotland on Friday (23:00 BST) in the United States, has consistently denied the allegations.
On Friday, he broke a long public silence with a pointed statement on social media, describing his frustration with the process and the impact on his life.
"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he wrote.
"I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, being patient, and trusting in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.
"Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target.
"I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll be able to speak."
His words cut through the usual pre-match noise. Morocco are preparing for a World Cup fixture; their captain is preparing for a courtroom.
Relief and resolve from the complainant’s side
From the other side of the case, the reaction carried a very different tone.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the plaintiff, welcomed the judge’s decision in a written statement, describing it as a crucial moment after what she framed as a long and bruising legal battle.
"After more than three years of legal proceedings, and after my client was, in her view, defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi's defence, this decision brings her relief and hope," she said.
"Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial.
"Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the wall of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including in the world of men's football."
The case now moves towards a full hearing, with the stakes extending beyond the two individuals involved and into the wider debate over accountability in elite sport.
World Cup complications on and off the pitch
On the field, Hakimi remains central to Morocco’s ambitions. He has 97 caps, debuted for the national team at just 17 in 2016, and was a driving force in the side that made history at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
All three of Morocco’s group games at this tournament are being staged in the United States, where the squad is currently based. For now, that offers a degree of logistical simplicity.
If Morocco reach the knockout rounds, the picture could change quickly.
With the World Cup spread across the US, Canada and Mexico until the quarter-final stage, Hakimi may face significant hurdles entering Canada or Mexico if Morocco’s fixtures take them outside American soil. Canada’s government rules state that entry can be denied to any person who has "committed or been convicted of a crime". While Hakimi has not been convicted and denies the allegations, the existence of ongoing legal proceedings can complicate border decisions.
The issue is not hypothetical. Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country’s opener against Panama after being denied entry to World Cup co-hosts Canada. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.
For tournament organisers and national associations, these parallel cases underline the uneasy collision between football’s global showcase and unresolved criminal proceedings.
A stellar career under scrutiny
Hakimi’s club career has soared in recent years. Since joining Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021, he has collected 13 trophies, including back-to-back Champions League titles over the past two seasons, and established himself as one of the most dynamic full-backs in the modern game.
Now, his professional peak runs alongside the most serious legal challenge of his life.
In the coming weeks, he will charge up and down the flank in a World Cup hosted across a continent, every tackle and sprint framed by a case waiting for its day in court. The verdict that matters most to his career will not be delivered by a referee, but by a judge.
