French court orders Achraf Hakimi rape case to trial

French authorities have confirmed that Morocco national team captain Achraf Hakimi will go before a court on rape charges, after prosecutors decided the matter should proceed to trial.

The Paris Saint-Germain full-back is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 24-year-old woman at his Paris residence during 2023. Police began their inquiry in March of that year. In February 2026, a judge ruled the case should be heard in court after an attempt to have it thrown out was unsuccessful, according to reports.

Hakimi, who is 27, has repeatedly rejected the claims against him. No date has been fixed for the hearing.

The legal timetable may overlap with the FIFA World Cup. Morocco open their group stage in the United States, and deeper runs could mean fixtures in Canada or Mexico—raising possible difficulties around travel while court proceedings remain active.

Hakimi is not alone among players facing legal pressure ahead of the tournament. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey was blocked from entering Canada for his side’s opening game over unrelated charges and is due to stand trial next year.

With 97 international appearances, Hakimi ranks among Morocco’s senior figures on the pitch. He was central to the Atlas Lions’ run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. Since moving to PSG in 2021, he has collected several honours with the club.