Former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart claimed that "all Moroccans who aren't good enough to play for the Netherlands end up playing for Morocco".

He made these remarks while working as a pundit on the Dutch television football show Studio Voetbal. Now, those comments are back in the spotlight on social media. Morocco has knocked the Netherlands out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout victory in the Round of 32, sparking a huge media reaction across both countries and among football fans worldwide.

Many users have resurfaced Van der Vaart's remarks, arguing Morocco's success has proved him wrong. Morocco's squad includes several Dutch-born players who chose to represent the country of their heritage.