FIFA: Morocco Transforms from Honourable World Cup Participant to Global Powerhouse

The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) highlighted the significant transformations witnessed by the Moroccan national team in recent years, coinciding with its participation in the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

FIFA published a report emphasizing that the Moroccan national team has evolved from an honorable World Cup participant into a prominent global football power, noting this transformation as the biggest and most impressive within its World Cup group.

Recalling Morocco's presence alongside Brazil and Scotland in the same group in 1998, FIFA mentioned that the Moroccan team was then ranked tenth globally. Despite lacking significant international achievements, its primary ambition at the time was merely to advance beyond the group stage.

FIFA added that the Moroccan national team now enters the 2026 World Cup ranked eighth globally, surpassing its previous record and cementing its position as one of football's major forces, particularly after its historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup.

The brilliance is no longer limited to the senior national team alone. The U23 national team secured a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, while the U20 national team continued its impressive run by winning the U20 World Cup, according to the FIFA report.

The same source also pointed to a change in the technical staff. In the 1998 edition, the team was led by French coach Henri Michel, whereas today it relies on local expertise, including Mohamed Wahbi, who assumed leadership from Walid Regragui in March 2026.