FIFA World Cup 2026

Can Morocco Repeat Their Historic 2022 FIFA World Cup Success? 

Morocco shocked the football world in 2022 by becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final. Now, with a talented squad and growing expectations, the Atlas Lions head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup aiming to prove their historic run was no fluke. Can they do it again?

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Let’s take it back to Qatar 2022. The world was on the edge of their seats watching Morocco. Here, they made history being the first African and Arab football team to make the FIFA World Cup semi-finals.  

To do so, they beat Belgium in the group, Spain in the round of 16, and Portugal in the quarter-finals. Now they head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America looking to continue with this success.  

Coming in as an underdog to ranking as number 11 in the world is a lot of pressure. So, the question on everyone’s mind is can Morocco repeat their historic success or was it a fluke? In this article, we dive into this question. 

What Made Morocco So Dangerous in 2022? 

Morocco’s 2022 World Cup campaign was built on discipline, defensive organisation, and a clear game plan. Throughout the tournament, the Atlas Lions managed to defend themselves against some of the biggest names in football.  

They capitalised on opportunities having a defensive structure and relentless work rate. Their squad consisted of players playing at the highest level.  

Morocco’s true colours showed in the quarter-finals when they defeated Cristiano Ronaldo’s side. This secured them a place in the semi-finals, the biggest surprise of the 2022 World Cup.  

A Squad Built for Another Run 

The saying goes, “there is no I in team,” and Morocco’s 2026 FIFA squad proves this. Their squad consists of legends such as Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bouniu and Sofyan Amrabat as well as up-and-coming stars. Not only this, but many of their players have experience in top European leagues.  

Moroccan Squad for FIFA World Cup 2026

Since 2022, the coaching staff have changed. But the core of the team has remained the same. They still possess that resilience, awareness, and winning mentality that drove them to the semi-finals in the last World Cup.  

Overall, their squad now has valuable FIFA World Cup knockout experience that could help them repeat their previous success. 

What Challenges Could Morocco Face? 

Repeating a semi-final appearance will not be easy, especially with the new World Cup format. More teams means more competition and different knockout stage paths. More than that, teams are now aware of Morocco’s strengths. 

So, the world is expecting Morocco to succeed. They will be viewed as serious contenders in the game. This pressure could influence how Morocco plays, either for the better or worse. 

In addition to this, they will be playing Brazil in the group stages. Brazil has won the title 5 times over the years. Maintaining consistency when playing teams such as Brazil will be key in repeating success.  

Can Morocco Repeat Their Success? 

Since 2022, Morocco has proven themselves as one of the best teams in the world. Their blend of talent, tactical discipline, and tournament experience makes them one of the strongest dark horses in the competition.  

Morocco’s 2022 edition run was no fluke. It was the result of excellent coaching, and a squad filled with top tier talent. If they can continue what they started in Qatar, they are shoo-in to make it far again.  

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