Morocco: the surprise that became a reality, reaching the World Cup quarter-final for a second straight time
With a 3-0 win over Canada, powered by an Ounahi brace and a Rahimi goal, Morocco became the first team through to the 2026 World Cup quarter-final, proving their 2022 run was no fluke.
Morocco's World Cup story is no longer a one-off: beating Canada 3-0 in Houston thanks to an Azzedine Ounahi brace and a Soufiane Rahimi goal, the Atlas Lions became the first team through to the 2026 World Cup quarter-final.
This is not their first taste of this stage: at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco made history as the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals, eliminating Spain and Portugal along a legendary run.
Four years on, the Moroccan side is proving that feat was no fluke, but the start of a lasting reality built on genuine maturity and consistency at the highest level.
Fittingly, this quarter-final will once again pit Morocco against France, in a rematch of the 2022 semi-final that Les Bleus won 2-0. This time, the two sides meet in Boston on July 9.
Led by key men like Achraf Hakimi, this group aims to confirm that Morocco is no longer just a passing guest among the world's elite, but a force that is here to stay.
