Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will stand trial on a rape charge, French prosecutors have confirmed.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender was accused by a 24-year-old woman of raping her at his home in Paris in 2023. Following the allegation, the public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, a western suburb of the French capital, launched a preliminary investigation in March 2023.
An investigating judge ordered that the case proceed to trial in February 2026. According to French media reports, Hakimi, 27, recently failed in an appeal seeking to have the case dismissed.
Hakimi, who is expected to captain Morocco in their second World Cup group-stage match against Scotland on Friday, has consistently denied the allegations.
Responding to the decision on social media, Hakimi said he had remained silent for years out of respect for the legal process.
"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case,'" he 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."
The complainant's lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the decision, describing it as a source of relief and hope for her client.
"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," Pardo said in a statement.
She added that her client was relieved to have been heard by the justice system and hopeful that the trial would encourage other victims of sexual violence to come forward.
A date for the trial has not yet been announced.
Morocco are currently based in the United States, where all three of their World Cup group-stage matches are being played. However, should the Atlas Lions advance to the knockout rounds, Hakimi could face potential travel complications if fixtures are scheduled in Canada or Mexico.
Canada's immigration regulations allow authorities to deny entry to individuals who have committed or been convicted of certain criminal offences.
Hakimi has earned 97 international caps since making his Morocco debut at the age of 17 in 2016. He played a pivotal role in Morocco's historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, making them the first African nation to reach the last four of the tournament.
At club level, the defender joined Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has won 13 trophies with the French giants, including back-to-back UEFA Champions League titles over the past two seasons.
