Achraf Hakimi to Stand Trial for Rape Charges in France

Achraf Hakimi, captain of Morocco and one of the most high-profile full-backs in world football, will stand trial for rape in France after prosecutors confirmed an investigating judge has ordered the case to proceed.

The Paris St-Germain defender is accused of raping a 24-year-old woman at his home in the French capital in 2023. A preliminary investigation was opened by the public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, in the western suburbs of Paris, in March of that year.

That process has now moved into its most serious phase. In February 2026, an investigating judge ruled that Hakimi, 27, should face trial. French media report that a recent appeal from Hakimi’s legal team to have the case thrown out has failed.

Hakimi has consistently and firmly denied the allegations.

Hakimi speaks out

On Friday, on the eve of Morocco’s second World Cup group match against Scotland in the United States (23:00 BST), Hakimi broke a long-held public silence with a pointed statement on social media.

"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."

No date has yet been set for the start of the trial, but the decision to proceed ensures the case will shadow Hakimi through a defining stretch of his career, both for club and country.

Plaintiff hails "relief and hope"

The woman who accused Hakimi has maintained her complaint through more than three years of legal wrangling. Her lawyer, Rachel-Flore Pardo, welcomed the judge’s decision in a written statement.

"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.

"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 case now sits at the intersection of criminal justice, celebrity and elite sport, with the World Cup providing a stark global backdrop.

World Cup stakes and border questions

Morocco are based in the United States for the group stage, with all three of their matches taking place on American soil. For now, that shields Hakimi from any immediate logistical complications around travel.

If Morocco advance, the picture could change.

The tournament is spread across the US, Canada and Mexico until the quarter-finals, when it moves exclusively to venues in the United States. Should Morocco progress to the knockout rounds and be scheduled to play in Canada or Mexico, Hakimi could face significant difficulties entering those countries.

Canada’s government states it can deny entry to any person who has "committed or been convicted of a crime". While Hakimi has not been convicted of any offence and denies the allegations, the wording underlines the potential for scrutiny at the border in a high-profile, ongoing case.

The issue has already hit another World Cup squad. Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his nation’s opening match against Panama last week after being denied entry to Canada, one of the co-hosts.

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.

For players under criminal investigation, the World Cup’s tri-nation format has become more than a sporting puzzle. It is a legal and logistical minefield.

A career under the spotlight

On the pitch, Hakimi remains the heartbeat of a Morocco side that has already changed African football history. He has 97 caps and made his international debut in 2016 as a 17-year-old, rising from teenage prospect to national icon in less than a decade.

He played a central role in Morocco’s remarkable run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, when they became the first African nation ever to reach the last four of the tournament. His surging runs from right-back and set-piece quality turned him into one of the faces of that campaign.

At club level, Hakimi 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 status in the game is undisputed; his future, far less so.

Now he leads Morocco into a World Cup game against Scotland under the heaviest of spotlights, with a looming trial that will define far more than his reputation as a footballer.

The next whistle he hears in a stadium will be for kick-off. The next time he stands in front of a judge, the stakes will be immeasurably higher.