French prosecutors have confirmed that Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial for rape. The Paris Saint-Germain defender was accused by a 24-year-old woman of raping her at his home in the French capital back in 2023.
The case has been dragging on for more than three years now. The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a western suburb of Paris, started a preliminary investigation in March 2023. Then in February 2026, an investigating judge ordered that the case should go to trial. Hakimi tried to appeal that decision to have the trial dismissed, but the Versailles Court of Appeal rejected his appeal on June 19, 2026.
Hakimi, who is 27 years old and currently leading his national team at the World Cup in the United States, has consistently denied the accusations from the very beginning.
The footballer took to social media on Friday to speak out about the case. He wrote: "The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case.'" He went on to say that he chose to remain silent for years because he believed that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.
Hakimi also expressed frustration, saying that a story that is not his is being told at the expense of his family, his life, and above all, the truth. He admitted that sometimes he feels like he has become an easy target. However, he made it clear that he has been waiting for this trial since day one and is now eagerly awaiting it, saying: "Finally, I'll be able to speak."
On the other side, Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman who made the accusation, welcomed the court's decision. She said in a statement that after more than three years of legal proceedings, and after her client was defamed and dragged through the mud by Hakimi's defence, this decision brings her relief and hope. She added that her client feels relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have the right to a trial. She also expressed 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.
A date has not yet been set for when the trial will actually begin.
This legal drama is unfolding while Hakimi is right in the middle of the World Cup. All three of Morocco's group stage matches are being held in the United States, where the team is currently based. But there could be complications if Morocco progresses to the knockout stages. Hakimi could face difficulties entering Canada or Mexico if their matches are scheduled outside the United States.
This is not just an empty worry. Just last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country's opening match against Panama after he was denied entry to Canada. Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year. Canada's government website states that they can deny entry to any person that has "committed or been convicted of a crime."
Hakimi has won 97 caps for Morocco and made his international debut way back in 2016 when he was just 17 years old. He was a key figure in the Morocco side that made history by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022. The defender joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has won 13 trophies during his time at the club, including back-to-back Champions League titles in the past two seasons.
For now, Hakimi is expected to lead his team out for their second World Cup fixture against Scotland on Friday, as the legal battle continues to hang over his head.
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