Paris appeals court confirmed that Achraf Hakimi will face trial for rape. The defender, who just helped PSG win a second straight Champions League, is also a key player for Morocco in the World Cup. The ruling came hours before Morocco face Scotland in Group C for their group match later in June 2026 today.

Morocco drew 1-1 with Brazil in its opener, leaving the side scrambling for points. Hakimi denied the charges, saying the case would have closed if he were not famous. His legal team argues exculpatory evidence surfaced, but prosecutors insist the evidence warrants a trial for the investigation to proceed in Paris this summer 2026 on.

Rachel‑Flore Pardo, the plaintiff’s lawyer, said the decision gives her client relief and hope that the justice system will hear her story. She urged the trial to weaken denial and impunity around sexual violence, especially within men’s football, where powerful figures often escape scrutiny in French court decisions that set precedents for future cases today.

Defence attorney Fanny Colin noted that exculpatory evidence could have led to dismissal in other cases. Hakimi, who said he has been an ‘easy target’ because of his fame, will finally speak at trial, though the date remains unset. The outcome will affect his career and Morocco’s World Cup campaign in 2026 season for the.