A lot can change in four years, especially perception. Morocco were the darlings of the 2022 World Cup in just their sixth appearance. They won a group featuring Belgium and the 2018 runners-up in Croatia. In the knockout rounds, they beat Spain after penalty kicks and Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal next to reach the semifinals.
Then came France.
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The reigning world champions ended Morocco’s dream run. Manager Walid Regragui explained that mistakes against teams like France will cost you. The mix of skill and experience proved too much for the Atlas Lions, who fell 2-0 and ended up finishing fourth.
Morocco’s World Cup success in Qatar was the result of a directive to grow from the grassroots level. The number of registered amateur players has increased by 25% since 2019, up to over 130,000 as of this past winter. Their men’s team won the U-20 World Cup last fall, which included a semifinal win over France and then a 2-0 shutout of Argentina in the final.
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Since the last World Cup in Qatar, Morocco has beaten and drawn with Brazil, won the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (though that remains in dispute), and went undefeated in World Cup qualifying with a plus-20 goal differential. They are no longer a Cinderella or an inspiring story. They are a side with a seat at the table with the big boys.
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“We have to recognize that Morocco are living through the finest technical era in their footballing history,” said Mohamed Ouahbi, who coached that title-winning U-20 Morocco team and then replaced Regragui in March.
Since taking over the senior men’s team, Ouahbi has not lost in 10 games in charge. Morocco has won six and drawn four and are the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in back-to-back World Cups.
Soufiane Rahimi #9 of Morocco celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Morocco and Haiti at Atlanta Stadium on June 24, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Kevin C. Cox via Getty Images)
This World Cup, Morocco is fourth in total possession (60.4%) of the eight teams remaining and third overall in total passes (3,126). Their defensive pressuring has suffocated opponents and led to only four goals conceded. They can force turnovers and move the ball quickly, finding ways inside their opponents’ penalty box to create scoring chances.
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“We have skill and pace, so we needed the right approach,” said Ouahbi. “We now we have a distinctive identity, so it won’t be difficult to explain to the players how I want them to play.”
France has cruised through the group stage and the first two knockout-round matches. Didier Deschamps’ side has only one victory by fewer than a two-goal margin — their 1-0 Round of 16 win over Paraguay where Gustavo Alfaro’s strategy was to play football, not fútbol.
But France will be tested as they sit two wins away from reaching a third straight World Cup final.
“We have to be efficient, offensively speaking. In all the areas both teams have strong assets,” Deschamps said this week.
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“[Morocco has] top individuals,” he added. “They are not here to play. They are here to win. We have to be ready and perform and deliver against this great team.”
France remains the favorites — not just in their quarterfinal match, but for the rest of the World Cup. Morocco will carry the underdog tag, but they are a stronger side than what they fielded four years ago at Al Bayt Stadium. Only nine players from that 2022 roster remain, proving that the growth within the program has helped earned their place in the final eight.
On Thursday in Foxborough, Morocco will get another opportunity to show how far it has come to be among soccer’s elite.
“I think you’ve seen in our matches that the players are playing with tremendous passion, just as we did in 2022,” said goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. “The team still has the same mindset.”
