00:02In recent years, Morocco has emerged as one of the most significant hotbeds of football in the world.
00:09The men's team broke new ground for African football by reaching the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
00:18In the group phase, they stunned pre-tournament favourites Belgium 2-0,
00:23then edged past Spain on penalties, before adding the scalp of Portugal in the quarter-finals.
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.
00:41We'll have a brilliant World Cup in 2030 in Morocco.
00:47Obviously, Morocco semi-finalists of the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
00:53Everyone knows the fans of Morocco.
00:56Morocco, felicitations au Maroc, Dima, Maghreb, we should say as well.
01:03They are absolutely unique and fantastic.
01:07The people that will go to Morocco will be welcomed like nowhere else.
01:12It will be a huge celebration of humanity, of football, of togetherness and the joy for the Moroccan people
01:24in Morocco and all over the world is definitely at this moment extremely high.
01:29The 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,
01:51like the state-of-the-art academy Mohamed Sees de 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.
02:28In 1970, they became the first team from the continent to earn a point when they drew one-all with
02:34Bulgaria.
02:36Then at Mexico 86, they became the first African side to reach the round of 16.
02:45Waleed Reg Raghi is the man responsible for continuing this progress.
02:50Appointed shortly before the last World Cup, the former international defender enjoyed an extraordinary honeymoon period in the role
02:57as the Atlas Lions defied expectations in Qatar.
03:04Waleed Reg Raghi'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 bogey side South Africa.
03:20This was their only defeat during a two-year period from September 2023 to September 2025,
03:28one that included a world record streak of consecutive victories, surpassing 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, and they scored at least twice on seven occasions.
03:57Reg Raghi has demonstrated tactical flexibility, but 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, and Europa League champion with Sevilla,
04:19Bounou moved to the Saudi Pro League in 2023 and has continued his excellent form,
04:24including at the 2025 Club World Cup, when he helped Al-Hilal defeat Manchester City in the round of 16.
04:38Morocco's captain, best player and all-round megastar is full-back Ashraf Hakimi.
04:45Now 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 Neusser Mazraoui.
05:00His club-curated eight lists Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
05:07Nayef Agurd and Adam Massina make for an imposing centre-half partnership.
05:15The well-travelled Sofjan Amrabat is the linchpin in midfield,
05:19with his defensive Nafs to 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, whether operating through the middle or drifting off a flank.
05:45And his nimble footwork is now complemented by Brahim Diaz,
05:49after the Real Madrid playmaker nominated for the country of his father after previously representing Spain.
05:58The powerful Yusuf Nassiri is the focal point in attack.
06:04It is a formidable line-up, blending strength, experience and game-breaking individual talent.
06:11Not only that, but there is serious quality bubbling underneath.
06:15And with a world champion under-20s on the horizon, the future looks very bright indeed.
06:25Since their staggering performance in Qatar, Morocco have been ranked between 11th and 14th in the world by FIFA.
06:32Consequently, expectations are high ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
06:37And this time around, nobody should be surprised if they reach the semi-finals or better.
06:45And with a World Cup on home soil four years later, football better take notice that Morocco are now a
06:51serious force to be reckoned with.
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