Thousands cheer as the sun rises on winter solstice at Stonehenge

LONDON (AP) — Thousands of people cheered and danced around Stonehenge as the sun rose over the prehistoric stone circle on Sunday, the winter solstice.

The crowds, many dressed as druids and pagans, had gathered before dawn, waiting patiently in the dark and cold field in southwest England. Some sang and beat drums, while others took time to reflect among the huge stone pillars.

Many make the pilgrimage to the stone circle every summer and winter and consider it a spiritual experience. The ancient monument, erected between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago, was built to align with the movement of the sun on the solstices — key dates in the calendar for ancient farmers.

English Heritage, the organization that manages Stonehenge, said some 8,500 people celebrated Saturday at the monument on Salisbury Plain, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) southwest of London. It added that its livestream of the festivities drew over 242,000 views from around the world.

Sunday is the shortest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical winter. It’s the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the longest day of the year and summer will start.

The winter solstice is when the sun makes its shortest, lowest arc, but many celebrate it as a time of renewal because after Sunday, the sun starts climbing again and days will get a little longer every day until late June.

People celebrate the Winter Solstice sunrise celebrations at Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

People celebrate the Winter Solstice sunrise celebrations at Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

People celebrate the Winter Solstice sunrise celebrations at Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

People celebrate the Winter Solstice sunrise celebrations at Stonehenge, a world-famous prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025.(AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Andrew Matthew/PA via AP)

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Andrew Matthew/PA via AP)

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Andrew Matthew/PA via AP)

People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025. (Andrew Matthew/PA via AP)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — It took Ismael Saibari only 21 minutes to score a goal for Morocco in his World Cup debut.

Barely a minute was enough time for him to get on the scoreboard in his second outing.

Saibari drilled a shot into the top corner of the net a mere 72 seconds into Friday's 1-0 win over Scotland at Gillette Stadium, keeping alive Morocco's chances of advancing to its second straight World Cup knockout round.

“We wanted three points and we got them,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said.

Morocco's ball movement caught Scotland on its heels at the very start.

Saibari slipped behind two Scotland defenders and Brahim Diaz dropped the ball over the top to him. The 25-year-old forward gathered and blasted it into the top left corner, well outside the reach of goalkeeper Angus Gunn.

Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup in Qatar, drew 1-1 with Brazil in its Group C opener with Saibari scoring the lone goal. Scotland, which hasn’t gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.

Scotland was outshot 12-6 on Friday, struggling to get clear looks against Morocco’s defense.

The negative result didn't affect Scotland coach Steve Clarke's confidence in his team.

“We gave them a game," Clarke said. "We’re sure we can compete at this level.”

Morocco nearly scored another in the 52nd minute when a header by Bilal El Khannouss off Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick was battled down by Gunn.

Scotland had a chance in first-half stoppage time when Andy Robertson sent a cross at John McGinn, who couldn’t get a foot on it near the back post.

As Scotland pressed for an equalizing goal in the closing minutes, Morocco had a pair of good chances to add to their lead, but both missed the target.

“I thought the performance didn’t match the result, if I’m honest,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “We took the game to them. So there are positives from both games that certainly we can take into this last game.”

Scotland will face Brazil in its final Group C match on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco will take on Haiti at the same time in Atlanta.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn (1) blocks a shot at goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, top right, scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, left, scores his side's opening goal pst Scotland's Jack Hendry during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, top right, scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Morocco's Ismael Saibari, left, is congratulated after scoring his side's opening goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Scotland and Morocco in Foxborough, Mass., near Boston, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)