Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Campaign
Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape in France, a development that now hangs heavily over Morocco’s World Cup campaign and one of the game’s most high-profile full-backs.
French prosecutors in Nanterre, on the western edge of Paris, have confirmed that the Paris St‑Germain defender has been ordered to face trial over an allegation dating back to 2023. A woman, then 24, accuses Hakimi of raping her at his home in the French capital. A preliminary investigation began in March 2023; in February this year, an investigating judge ruled that the case should go to trial.
French media report that Hakimi, 27, has recently failed in an appeal to have that decision overturned.
Hakimi breaks his silence
Hakimi has consistently denied the accusation. Until now, he had largely let lawyers and statements do the talking. On Friday, with Morocco preparing for their second World Cup group game against Scotland (23:00 BST), he chose to speak in his own voice.
“The justice system looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case,’” he wrote on social media.
“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.”
No date has yet been set for the start of the trial, but the decision to proceed ensures the case will shadow Hakimi deep into 2026, long after the final ball is kicked at this World Cup.
Relief for the complainant
From the other side of the case, the tone is very different.
Rachel‑Flore Pardo, lawyer for the complainant, welcomed the judge’s decision in a written statement.
“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.
“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 legal battle now moves from procedural wrangling to a full trial, where both versions of events will be tested in court.
World Cup complications on and off the pitch
On the field, Hakimi remains central to Morocco. The right-back, already capped 97 times, made his debut at 17 and became one of the symbols of the side that stormed to the semi-finals in 2022, the first African team ever to go that far at a World Cup.
He is expected to captain his country again on Friday, leading a group whose entire pool schedule is being played in the United States, where Morocco are currently based.
But the World Cup’s unique three‑nation hosting arrangement introduces another layer of uncertainty. If Morocco progress to the knockout rounds and find themselves scheduled to play in Canada or Mexico, Hakimi could face significant difficulties entering either country.
Canada’s government states it can deny entry to anyone who has “committed or been convicted of a crime”. Even without a conviction, the existence of serious charges can trigger scrutiny at the border. The question of whether he would be allowed to travel, and under what conditions, hangs over any potential fixture outside US soil.
The issue is not theoretical. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who 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, was denied entry to Canada last week and missed Ghana’s opener against Panama. Partey, 32, is due to stand trial next year.
With the World Cup spread across the US, Canada and Mexico until the quarter-finals, then finishing exclusively in the United States, fixture geography could suddenly become as important to Morocco as form and fitness.
A star under scrutiny
Hakimi’s club career has risen relentlessly. From Real Madrid’s academy to Borussia Dortmund, then Inter Milan and on to Paris St‑Germain in 2021, he has collected 13 major trophies, including back‑to‑back Champions League titles with PSG over the past two seasons. His pace, timing and attacking thrust from full-back have made him one of the most influential defenders in the modern game.
Now, that glittering CV sits alongside a looming trial date and a public dispute over truth, power and accountability.
For Morocco, the equation is stark. On the pitch, they rely on Hakimi’s leadership and quality. Off it, their captain is preparing to fight one of the most serious charges a player can face.
The World Cup will move quickly. The French courts will not. How long can football and a case of this magnitude run on parallel tracks before they collide?
