00:03In 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 semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup.
00:19In 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,
00:37sharing main hosting duties with Spain and Portugal.
00:41What a brilliant World Cup in 2030 in Morocco.
00:48Obviously, Morocco semi-finalists of the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
00:54Everyone 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 in
01:26Morocco 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.
01:38Chair of the committee in charge of the joint candidacy is Fauzi Lekjar, 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, like the
01:53state-of-the-art Academy Mohamed Sis de Football.
02:00Further 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.
02:24All 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.
02:46Waleed Regraghi is the man responsible for continuing this progress.
02:51Appointed shortly before the last World Cup, the former international defender enjoyed an extraordinary honeymoon period in the role,
02:58as 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 Bodhi's side, South Africa.
03:21This 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,
03:33surpassing Spain's mark of 15 between 2008 and 2009.
03:39That long, unbeaten stretch included a faultless World Cup qualifying campaign.
03:45All eight matches were won, five by two goals or more,
03:49and they scored at least twice on seven occasions.
03:58Regraghi has demonstrated tactical flexibility, but leans towards a 4-5-1 formation.
04:08Now entering veteran status, Yassine Bouhnu remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
04:14A La Liga winner with Atletico Madrid,
04:16the Europa League champion with Sevilla,
04:19Bouhnu moved to the Saudi Pro League in 2023,
04:22and has continued his excellent form,
04:26including at the 2025 Club World Cup,
04:29when he helped Al-Hilal defeat Manchester City in the round of 16.
04:39Morocco's captain, best player,
04:41and all-round megastar
04:43is full-back Ashraf Hakimi.
04:46Now a Champions League winner with both Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain,
04:51Hakimi is the defining full-back in the modern game.
04:56On the opposite side of defence is the versatile Nusa Mazraoui.
05:01His club curator date lists Ajax, Bayern Munich and Manchester United.
05:08Nayaf Aguid and Adam Massina make for an imposing centre-half partnership.
05:16The well-travelled Sofyan Amrabat is the linchpin in midfield,
05:20with his defensive naus to foil for an exciting group of younger internationals to blossom,
05:26including Bilal El-Khanous and Azadeen Unahi.
05:36Morocco 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,
05:54after previously representing Spain.
05:59The powerful Yusuf M. Nassiri is the focal point in attack.
06:05It is a formidable line-up,
06:07blending strength, experience and game-breaking individual talent.
06:12Not only that, but there is serious quality bubbling underneath,
06:16and with a world champion under-20s on the horizon,
06:20the future looks very bright indeed.
06:25Since their staggering performance in Qatar,
06:28Morocco have been ranked between 11th and 14th in the world by FIFA.
06:33Consequently, expectations are high ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
06:38And this time around, nobody should be surprised if they reach the semi-finals or better.
06:45And with the World Cup on home soil four years later,
06:49football better take notice that Morocco are now a serious force to be reckoned with.
Comments