About Morocco national men's football team
The Morocco national men's football team is the men's representative team representing Morocco in international football competitions. Managed by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), it is nicknamed the "Atlas Lions." Having participated in the World Cup six times, it is the first African team to directly qualify for the World Cup finals (1970) and became the first African team to top a World Cup group in 1986. In the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the team won the championship in 1976 and finished as runner-up in 2004.
Current Situation
At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco advanced to the knockout stage as group winners, consecutively defeating Spain and Portugal to reach the semi-finals for the first time in history, eventually finishing in fourth place and setting the best record for an African team. In March 2023, the team beat Brazil 2-1 in an international friendly, becoming the first African team to defeat Brazil at home, and was nominated for the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year the same year. At the 2024 AFCON, Morocco qualified for the knockout stage with a group stage record of 2 wins and 1 draw but was eliminated after losing 2-0 to South Africa in the round of 16. In September 2025, Morocco qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America three rounds ahead of schedule, becoming the first African team to qualify for three consecutive World Cups, and was drawn into Group C with Brazil and Scotland in the group stage draw. Its rise is attributed to the training system of the Mohammed VI Football Academy and the "Bringing Talent Home" recruitment program, which have fostered players such as Achraf Hakimi and Hakim Ziyech who play in European leagues. In October 2025, the Morocco U20 national team won the FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Chile, claiming the title on their debut. Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup and plans to build the King Hassan II Stadium with a capacity of 115,000 spectators.
