00:02In recent years, Morocco has emerged as one of the most significant hotbeds of football in the world.
00:10The men's team broke new ground for African football by reaching the semifinals of the 2022 World Cup.
00:18In the group phase, they stunned pre-tournament favorite Belgium 2-0,
00:23then edged past Spain on penalties before adding the scalp of Portugal in the quarterfinals.
00:30In 2024, Morocco was selected by FIFA as one of the co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup,
00:36sharing main hosting duties with Spain and Portugal.
00:41What a brilliant World Cup in 2030 in Morocco.
00:47Obviously, Morocco semifinalists of the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
00:53Everyone knows the fans of Morocco.
01:00We should say as well, they are absolutely unique and fantastic.
01:07The people that will go to Morocco will be welcomed like nowhere else.
01:13It will be a huge celebration of humanity, of football, of togetherness and the joy for the Moroccan people.
01:25In Morocco and all over the world is definitely at this moment extremely high.
01:30The first time for Morocco as well to host a World Cup after having tried many times to beat.
01:37Chair of the committee in charge of the joint candidacy is Fauzi Lekjah, one of football's most influential administrators.
01:45He also happens to be an advisor to his country's king, leading to major strategic investments in football,
01:52like the state-of-the-art Academy Mohamed Sees to Football.
01:59Further influence on the global game arrived in 2025, with the opening of the FIFA Africa office in the Moroccan
02:07capital, Rabat.
02:11Also in 2025, Morocco celebrated victory in the Under-20 World Cup, defeating Spain, France and Argentina along the way.
02:23All of this extends Morocco's long pioneering legacy for African football.
02:29In 1970, they became the first team from the continent to earn a point, when they drew one-all with
02:35Bulgaria.
02:37Then at Mexico 86, they became the first African side to reach the round of 16.
02:45Waleed Regraghi is the man responsible for continuing this progress.
02:49Appointed shortly before the last World Cup, a former international defender enjoyed an extraordinary honeymoon period in the role,
02:57as the Atlas Lions defied expectations in Qatar.
03:05Regraghi's standing took a hit at Morocco's next major tournament, the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations,
03:12when his side was knocked out in the round of 16 by Bogie's side, South Africa.
03:20This was their only defeat during a two-year period from September 2023 to September 2025,
03:29one that included a world-record streak of consecutive victories,
03:33surpassing Spain's mark of 15 between 2008 and 9.
03:38That long, unbeaten stretch included a faultless World Cup qualifying campaign.
03:44All eight matches were won, five by two goals or more,
03:49and they scored at least twice on seven occasions.
03:57Regraghi has demonstrated tactical flexibility,
04:00but leans towards a 4-5-1 formation.
04:07Now entering veteran status, Yassine Bounou remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
04:14A La Liga winner with Atletico Madrid,
04:16and Europa League champion with Sevilla,
04:19Bounou moved to the Saudi Pro League in 2023,
04:22and has continued his excellent form,
04:25including at the 2025 Club World Cup,
04:28when he helped Al-Hilal defeat Manchester City in the round of 16.
04:38Morocco's captain, best player,
04:41and all-round megastar is full-back Ashraf Hakimi.
04:46Now a Champions League winner with both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain,
04:50Hakimi is the defining full-back in the modern game.
04:56On the opposite side of defence is the versatile Noosa Mazraoui.
05:00His club-curated eight lists Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
05:07Nayaf Agard and Adam Massina make for an imposing centre-half partnership.
05:15The well-travelled Sofyan Amrabat is the linchpin in midfield,
05:20with his defensive Noosa foil for an exciting group of younger internationals to blossom,
05:25including Bilal El-Khanous and Azadeen Unahi.
05:35Morocco have an enviable array of forwards at their disposal.
05:40Hakim Ziyech remains the conductor,
05:42whether operating through the middle or drifting off a flank.
05:46And his nimble footwork is now complemented by Brahim Diaz,
05:50after the Real Madrid playmaker nominated for the country of his father,
05:53after previously representing Spain.
05:58The powerful Youssef M. Nassiri is the focal point in attack.
06:04It is a formidable line-up,
06:07blending strength, experience and game-breaking individual talent.
06:11Not only that, but there is serious quality bubbling underneath.
06:16And with a world champion under-20s on the horizon,
06:19the future looks very bright indeed.
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