Achraf Hakimi Faces Trial for Rape Allegations Amid World Cup Campaign

Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco and star defender for Paris St-Germain, 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 outskirts of Paris, confirmed that a trial has been mandated after a preliminary investigation that began in March 2023. The case centres on allegations 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 27-year-old will face trial. French media report that Hakimi recently failed in an appeal to have the case thrown out.

He has denied the accusations from the outset. Publicly. Repeatedly.

On Friday, with Morocco preparing for their second World Cup group match against Scotland (23:00 BST), Hakimi broke a long silence with a pointed message on social media.

"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."

On the other side of the courtroom divide, the plaintiff’s camp welcomed the decision.

Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the complainant, said in a statement that, after more than three years of legal proceedings, the ruling brought her client "relief and hope".

She said her client felt she had been "defamed and dragged through the mud" by Hakimi’s defence, and that the order for a trial offered "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."

No date has yet been set for the start of the trial.

World Cup on the horizon, legal storm in the background

While the legal process moves at its own pace, Hakimi remains central to Morocco’s ambitions on the pitch.

All three of Morocco’s group-stage fixtures are being played in the United States, where the squad is currently based. For now, that keeps the focus largely on football and allows their captain to lead them without immediate travel complications.

That could change quickly.

If Morocco progress to the knockout rounds, they may be scheduled to play in Canada or Mexico, the other co-hosts of this World Cup. At that point, Hakimi could face serious issues entering those countries.

Canada’s government states it can deny entry to any person who has "committed or been convicted of a crime". The wording also leaves room for interpretation around ongoing criminal cases, and recent events suggest a hardening stance.

Only last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country’s tournament opener against Panama after being denied entry to Canada. The 32-year-old has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault, relating to allegations from four women between 2020 and 2022, and is due to stand trial next year.

Hakimi’s situation is different, but the warning signs for players facing serious criminal allegations are clear.

A career at its peak, under intense scrutiny

On the field, Hakimi stands at the peak of his career.

He has 97 caps for Morocco, having debuted for his country in 2016 at just 17. His surging runs from right-back and his relentless energy helped drive Morocco to an unprecedented World Cup semi-final in 2022, the first African nation ever to reach that stage.

At club level, he joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has become one of the most decorated full-backs of his generation, collecting 13 trophies with the French champions, including back-to-back Champions League titles over the past two seasons.

Now, that glittering CV runs alongside a criminal case that will follow him into 2026.

Morocco will look to their captain again on Friday night in the United States, a team built around his leadership and experience. The stadium lights will be bright, the stakes high, the noise deafening.

Somewhere beyond that roar, in a courtroom in Nanterre, another decisive contest is waiting.