Morocco

The idea that Morocco could co-host the 2030 World Cup with near-neighbors Spain and Portugal seemed a bit crazy when it was floated four years ago.

“There is no reason for European teams to be better than us,” Lekjaa said. [the 2026 tournament hosting vote](https://apnews.com/article/moscow-north-america-international-soccer-united-states-sports-africa-71e70169ac9343839436613b7d8dbb31) to the heavily favored United States-Canada-Mexico plan. “Rather, it is a relationship in which civilizations can meet and cultures meet.” The South American soccer body CONMEBOL has just 10 votes at FIFA. By comparison, uniting Spain, Portugal and Morocco looks more logical. “In order to show the world that the relationship between Africa and Europe is not only the relationship of illegal immigration and the fight against it,” Lekjaa said.

Doha, Qatar (AP) -- Morocco made history, but couldn't make it past Kylian Mbappé and France.

Morocco's run inspired Africa and the Arab world and proved that European and South American hegemony on the World Cup is being chipped away.

[United States](/soccer/team?id=660) (yes, really), way back in 1930 at the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay. Maybe, like Pele's oft-mocked prediction that an African team would win the World Cup by 2000, it's just wishful thinking, somewhere between a fantasy and a flight of folly. In addition, Moroccan clubs are the reigning champions in Africa's CAF Champions League ( [Nayef Aguerd](https://www.espn.com.sg/soccer/player/_/id/245243/Nayef-Aguerd) in the starting lineup submitted to FIFA, knowing there was no way he could take the pitch, only to change him just before kickoff. The bond with their ancestry and culture is strong. Regragui's mastery at squeezing the most out of his group of players was key to their run. [Portugal](/soccer/team?id=482) or [Spain](/soccer/team?id=164). And it's not just about Morocco, it's about the beginnings of a world order being upended. Only eight countries, from two continents, have won the World Cup and that won't change this time around, with France and [Bracket](https://www.espn.com/soccer/bracket) One was the [Morocco](/soccer/team?id=2869) coach Walid Regragui embraced his opposite number, [France](/soccer/team?id=478) boss Didier Deschamps, who had just guided Les Bleus to a second consecutive World Cup final.

Scenes of players frolicking on the pitch with their mothers were more than enough for me. Soraya Salam. Manager of Al Jazeera English Online.

[in solidarity with the Palestinian cause](/opinions/2022/12/7/fifa-world-cup-palestine-1-israel-0), as players and fans regularly [waved the Palestinian flag](/gallery/2022/11/29/photos-palestinian-flags-fly-high-at-the-world-cup-in-qatar). [electrifying Moroccan fandom](/gallery/2022/12/14/morocco-fans-honour-their-team-despite-semifinal-loss) that to an outsider seemed to pop up in Qatar overnight. For them, the following message about Palestinians was enough: “They exist. They will not be erased.” [the first African team](/news/2022/12/14/for-african-fans-legendary-morocco-feat-means-sky-is-the-limit) to make it to the semis, or [the first Arab team](/news/2022/12/10/how-the-arab-world-celebrated-moroccos-win)?” [love their mothers](/news/2022/12/6/moroccos-world-cup-magic-potion-football-moms-and-dads-in-qatar), many Muslims joked that it was only due to the “mother’s ‘dua’ [prayer]” that they were still hanging on.

Moroccan hospital operator Akdital traded up slightly after it priced its IPO in Morocco on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday at 3.30pm in Casablanca, ...

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The Athletic's team in Qatar analyses a Morocco team, their manager Regragui and their fans at the World Cup who never gave up...

“He’s such an important player for us.” [Jawad El Yamiq](https://theathletic.com/football/player/jawad-el-yamiq-bTawtjn1WdTGnPsq/) was moved over to the left side of the back three, with Saiss — another 50/50 call to start through injury — in the middle and Dari on the right. On Wednesday, there were more queues at Al Janoub, a stadium to the south of Doha, and then people gathered outside the team’s hotel in the city’s West Bay. He is occupying the space behind Mbappe with which the Frenchman does not concern himself, and is providing able back-up for [Hakim Ziyech](https://theathletic.com/football/player/hakim-ziyech-wnxSjcAC5t7f1pHr/), who is supposed to be the more advanced of the two. We have 26 players in the squad, and if you want to win you have to believe in everyone.” In Doha, the red and green of the Moroccan flag has dominated the popular fan areas all week. [Noussair Mazraoui](https://theathletic.com/football/player/noussair-mazraoui-N0O0yBol0O5V2Af2/) went off at half-time, with Yahia Attiat-Allah replacing him. Amrabat disappeared from the camera’s view and then suddenly appeared again on the edge of the Moroccan penalty area to win the ball from the Paris Saint-Germain forward. [West Ham](https://theathletic.com/football/team/west-ham-united/) defender was “recovering from ‘flu”. When a second version landed at 9.55pm, just five minutes before kick-off, [Achraf Dari](https://theathletic.com/football/player/achraf-dari-fsjdCsjnDWQYhxWv/) was listed instead. [Theo Hernandez](https://theathletic.com/football/player/theo-hernandez-Kw8dlLxh5HDhk9JV/) put the defending champions ahead in the fifth minute but Morocco exposed the defending champions on more than one occasion, particularly when attacking down France’s left. [Romain Saiss](https://theathletic.com/football/player/romain-saiss-H53RYT3p6ZfK69fP/) from 21 minutes onwards, Morocco kept going. In the stands, Morocco fans’ support was loud and relentless, despite a fraught build-up.

About 250 fans cheered Les Bleus on, with a smattering of Morocco fans also lauding their brave team. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Moroccan Simo Haboucha was crestfallen at the final whistle. They ultimately acknowledged France’s efficiency in front of goal. “It’s going to be a crazy game. It will be a very entertaining final.” We beat Argentina in 2018 and I know they will want revenge. Morocco had the lion’s share of possession against France – 55 per cent to Les Bleus’ 34, with 11 per cent in contest) in their World Cup semi-final – a stark contrast to the 22 per cent they registered in both their historic knockout-stage wins over Spain and Portugal.

Atlas Lions manager says his side 'have proven that Africans can go toe-to-toe with top teams'

“We knew we had achieved something great already and that everyone was proud of us.” “We wanted to rewrite the history books and you can’t do that with a miracle; it takes hard work,” he said. We went further than Brazil, Spain, Germany, all top sides, but we have to show that regularly if we want Morocco to be on the world footballing map.” “We knew we had achieved something great already and that everyone was proud of us,” Regragui said. “Those small details are what help real champions win and we saw that tonight. With all our squad fit, we could have caused them a lot of problems.”

With much of the world rallying around his country's unprecedented run, a member of the Moroccan diaspora says that "to me, we already won the World Cup."

[impromptu pep rallies](https://www.france24.com/en/sport/20221207-moroccans-across-the-world-celebrate-historic-world-cup-victory-over-spain). [5 million expatriates](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-51237-8_13) live in France than anywhere else. [a photographer](https://www.instagram.com/abdelaliessaouis/?hl=en) who lives in Montreal, home to the largest Moroccan community in North America. 22 team](https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/mar), defied the odds to become one of the World Cup's final four. "This will also forever change the mindset of Moroccans and other Africans, that winning and achieving is a possibility." The historic run also is thrilling far-flung Moroccans, giving them new reason to be proud of their home nation.

Defending world champions end Morocco's World Cup dreams and book their place in the final.

His shot bounced off Abde Ezzalzouli into the path of Muani, who tapped it in. Mbappe managed to pick up a loose Moroccan pass in midfield, bringing it into a congested Moroccan box. It was the first goal Morocco had conceded to an opposition player at the World Cup in Qatar. At the break, France were ahead but Morocco’s Atlas Lions were the ones roaring. Hakim Ziyech shot wide in the 15th minute after a sweet breakaway from Morocco’s box. This was comfortably dealt with by Lloris but gave the Moroccans a sense of momentum.

The king of Morocco established the Mohammed VI Football Academy in 2009 to find and develop the best young footballers in the country.

- Noussair Mazraoui (Netherlands) - Sofyan Amrabat (Netherlands) - Achraf Hakimi (Spain)

Goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani end battling Morocco's dream run. Read more at straitstimes.com.

As the seconds ticked away, they broke into another spontaneous rendition of the national anthem, waving their flags high and proud. In the 76th minute, Abderrazak Hamdallah found himself in a good position just inside the box but hesitated to pull the trigger. Morocco coach Walid Regragui admitted to AFP that “we didn’t get into the game well”. With all at stake, the Moroccan players appeared over-eager in the opening exchanges. They turned the stadium, not for the first time this tournament, into an intimidating cauldron of noise. Heading for grandeur!”, with even head coach Walid Regragui pictured singing at the top of his lungs.