Morocco Reaches a World Cup Semifinal
In December 2022, at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Morocco became the first African nation, and the first Arab nation, to reach the semifinals of a men's World Cup. The run was widely celebrated across Africa, the Arab world and among diaspora communities in Europe, and it challenged long-held assumptions about the limits of African teams on football's biggest stage.
African sides had come close before. Cameroon reached the quarterfinals in 1990, Senegal did so in 2002, and Ghana in 2010, where it was eliminated on penalties after a controversial match against Uruguay. None had gone further. Morocco itself had a modest World Cup record: it was the first African team to win a group in 1986, reaching the round of 16, but it had not advanced from a group since. Its preparations in 2022 were also disrupted when coach Vahid Halilhodžić was replaced by Walid Regragui only a few months before the tournament. Many of the squad had been born or raised in Europe, including Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech and Sofiane Boufal, reflecting Morocco's wide diaspora and the country's efforts to recruit players with Moroccan heritage.
In Qatar, Morocco topped a group that included Croatia, Belgium and Canada, drawing with the former and beating the latter two. Its defense was a defining feature; the team conceded very few goals, and one of those was an own goal. In the round of 16 it eliminated Spain on a penalty shootout, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou saving two kicks. In the quarterfinals it beat Portugal 1-0 thanks to a header from Youssef En-Nesyri. Moroccan players celebrated with their mothers on the pitch, an image that drew wide attention, and some fans carried Palestinian flags, which became a talking point during the tournament.
The run ended in the semifinal, where Morocco lost 2-0 to the eventual champion, France. It then lost the third-place match to Croatia, finishing fourth overall. Even so, the team was welcomed home by large crowds in Rabat.
The legacy is both symbolic and practical. The result boosted interest in football across Africa and gave fresh momentum to Morocco's sporting ambitions. In 2023, Morocco, Spain and Portugal were chosen to host the 2030 men's World Cup, with some matches also planned for South America to mark the tournament's centenary. Morocco's performance is often cited as evidence that African teams can compete at the highest level, though many analysts note that its success also depended on the depth of talent developed in European football systems.