Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi will appear in court for rape, French prosecutors said.
A woman accused the Paris St-Germain defender of raping her at his home in the French capital in 2023, when she was 24.
The public prosecutor’s office in Nanterre, a suburb west of Paris, launched the first investigation in March 2023.
The investigating judge ordered a trial in February 2026 and French media reported that Hakimi, 27, had failed in a recent appeal to have the case dismissed.
Hakimi, who will be leading his team in their second World Cup match against Scotland on Friday (23:00 BST), has denied the allegations.
“The judiciary looked me in the eye and said, ‘If you weren’t famous, there would never have been a case,'” Hakimi wrote on social media on Friday.
“I chose to remain silent for many years. I believed that maintaining my dignity, patience, and trust in the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.
“Today, a story that is not mine is told about the loss of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I am an easy victim.
“I’ve been waiting for this case since day one. Now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I’ll be able to speak.”
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the plaintiff’s lawyer said in a statement: “After more than three years of trial, and after my client, in his opinion, was defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defense, this decision brings him relief and hope.
“Relief that you have been heard by the judiciary and you will have the right to a trial.
“I hope this case will help other women and weaken the wall of denial and impunity associated with sexual violence, including in the world of men’s football.”
A date for the trial has not yet been set.
All three matches of the Moroccan team are held in America where the team is based.
But if Morocco advance to the knockout stage, Hakimi could face a tough time getting into Canada or Mexico if their matches are scheduled outside the United States.
Last week, Ghanaian midfielder, Thomas Partey, missed out on his country’s opening match against Panama after he was denied entry to his fellow World Cup hosts, Canada.
Party, 32, pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault related to the allegations of four different women between 2020 and 2022.
He is expected to go on trial next year.
The Canadian government’s website says they can access anyone who has “committed or been convicted of a crime”.
The World Cup is held in all three co-hosting countries until the quarter-finals stage, when it will be held only in the US.
Hakimi, who has won 97 caps for Morocco, made his international debut in 2016 at the age of 17.
He was a key player in the Moroccan team that became the first African country to reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
The defender joined Paris St-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021, and has won 13 pieces of silverware during his time at the club – including back-to-back Champions League titles in the last two seasons.
