Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape Amid World Cup Spotlight

Achraf Hakimi, the captain of Morocco and one of the defining full-backs of his generation, will stand trial for rape in France after prosecutors confirmed an investigating judge has ordered the case to proceed.

The decision lands just as Hakimi prepares to lead his country into their second World Cup group match against Scotland in the United States on Friday night, a stark collision of footballing spotlight and legal scrutiny.

Trial Ordered After Three-Year Process

The case dates back to 2023, when a 24-year-old woman accused the Paris St-Germain defender of raping her at his home in the Paris region. The public prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, to the west of the capital, opened a preliminary investigation in March of that year.

That investigation has now moved into its most serious phase. An investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026, and French media report that Hakimi, 27, has recently failed in an appeal to have the case dismissed.

A trial date has not yet been set, but the direction of travel is clear: this will be heard in court.

Hakimi has consistently and firmly denied the accusations.

Hakimi Breaks His Silence

On Friday, the defender chose to speak at length in public, setting out his feelings on the case in a social media post.

"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" Hakimi 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 underline a player who feels both embattled and determined, heading into a World Cup with the weight of a pending criminal trial behind him.

Plaintiff’s Camp Welcomes Decision

From the other side of the case, the decision to send Hakimi to trial has been greeted as a crucial step.

Rachel-Flore Pardo, lawyer for the plaintiff, said in a statement that after more than three years of proceedings, the ruling brings her client "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, then, is no longer a distant possibility. It is now a scheduled confrontation, even if the exact courtroom date is yet to be fixed.

World Cup on One Side, Border Controls on the Other

While the legal process unfolds in France, Hakimi’s immediate reality is the World Cup, staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico until the quarter-final stage, when the tournament moves exclusively to the US.

Morocco’s group-stage fixtures are all in the United States, where the team is currently based. For now, that shields Hakimi from an extra layer of complexity.

But the equation could change quickly.

If Morocco progress to the knockout rounds and are drawn to play in Canada or Mexico, Hakimi may face difficulties entering those countries because of the pending case. Canada’s government states it can deny entry to any person who has "committed or been convicted of a crime", a broad wording that has already impacted another World Cup player.

Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his nation’s opener against Panama after being denied entry to Canada, one of the tournament’s co-hosts. 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.

The precedent is impossible to ignore. For Morocco, any route beyond the group phase may now come with a logistical and legal subplot around their captain’s availability.

A Career Under a Harsh Spotlight

On the pitch, Hakimi’s status is undisputed. He has 97 caps for Morocco, having debuted in 2016 at just 17, and was a central figure in the side that made history at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.

At club level, he joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has collected 13 trophies with the French champions, including back-to-back Champions League titles over the past two seasons. His surging runs from right-back and his reliability in high-pressure games have made him one of the most influential defenders in world football.

Now that same player walks into a World Cup fixture knowing that, in less than two years, he is scheduled to walk into a courtroom in France.

For Morocco, for PSG, and for Hakimi himself, the question is no longer whether this case will shape the narrative around his career, but how deeply it will cut into the defining years of it.