Hossam Hassan: "The Atlas Lions have become a global force to be reckoned with at the World Cup"
Egyptian football legend Hossam Hassan has paid tribute to the Moroccan national team, praising the experience and maturity the Atlas Lions have built since their historic World Cup 2022 semi-final run.
Egyptian football icon Hossam Hassan, the all-time top scorer of the Pharaohs, has spoken glowingly about the Moroccan national team, acknowledging the remarkable step forward the Atlas Lions have made on the international stage.
"More experienced at the World Cup"
"The Moroccan national team has become more experienced at the World Cup," said Hossam Hassan, highlighting the knowledge and maturity the Atlas Lions have built through successive World Cup campaigns. Coming from one of the most respected figures in Arab and African football, those words carry significant weight.
From Qatar to the United States
Morocco captured the world's imagination at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals. That historic run planted a seed of belief that has grown ever since. At the 2026 World Cup, the Atlas Lions carry that legacy into every match with a quiet confidence that only experience can bring.
A benchmark for the continent
Hassan's tribute is more than diplomatic courtesy — it is recognition from a man who has lived football at the highest level and understands what international experience truly means. Morocco have become a blueprint for African and Arab football, and the rest of the continent is watching closely.
The Lions keep marching
As Morocco continue their World Cup 2026 journey, they do so with the weight of history behind them and the hunger of a team that knows what it is capable of. If experience is the foundation of great achievements, the Atlas Lions have more than enough to build on.

