The Moroccan national team lost 0–2 to France in the quarter-finals and were knocked out of the 2026 World Cup. However, this defeat will not detract from everything this incredible generation of footballers has achieved.

The current squad has forever changed their country’s history on the international stage and has secured Moroccan football a respected place amongst the world’s elite.

Facing a relentless, star-studded French side, the ‘Lions of the Atlas’ once again competed on equal terms, with their heads held high and the identity that has become their trademark.

The final whistle signalled that the dream of repeating or surpassing the feat of four years ago was not to be, but this team proved that they are no longer an underdog. Morocco is a force to be reckoned with.

Finishing among the top eight in this World Cup reaffirms that the Moroccan side is ready to take on the major powers and invites us to look to the future with the same enthusiasm.

A historic achievement for an unforgettable generation

To grasp the scale of what this squad has achieved, one need only look back over the last four years.

What began as an epic journey in Qatar, where they became the first African semi-finalists in history, has evolved into a respected dominance.

  • 2022 World Cup semi-finalists: They broke a historic barrier in African football and finished among the world’s top four for the first time.

  • Africa Cup of Nations champions: They reaffirmed their status as continental giants by lifting their region’s most prized trophy following a controversial and memorable final against Senegal.

  • Quarter-finalists at the 2026 World Cup: Far from suffering the classic ‘hangover after success’, they returned to the world’s biggest stage to once again finish among the top eight teams on the planet.

Among the very best: From the ‘Ballon d'Or’ to the Kopa Trophy

This team’s competitive spirit is not solely down to their collective performance. It is also reflected in the individual recognition their star players have received at recent Ballon d'Or award ceremonies.

Several players in this squad have already experienced being nominated for the ceremony’s top awards, which demonstrates the quality of this group of players.

Yassine Bounou is a clear example of this progress. The goalkeeper, who was previously shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or and the Yashin Trophy, was once again one of Morocco’s standout performers at this World Cup.

In their final match against France, he had the satisfaction of saving a penalty from Kylian Mbappé. Indeed, it was down to him that the scoreline wasn’t even worse.

For his part, Achraf Hakimi demonstrated why he is one of the best full-backs around at the moment and was also one of Morocco’s standout players at this World Cup.

His inclusion amongst the nominees for the latest edition of the Ballon d'Or confirms his outstanding form, both at PSG and for the national team.

Alongside Bono, he has become the leading figure of a generation that is already competing on equal terms with any team on the international stage.

Hopes pinned on the 2030 World Cup

Beyond the understandable disappointment at being knocked out by France, the outlook for Moroccan football is very encouraging.

The country has been doing a great job with its youth teams, with recent successes in youth tournaments and at Olympic level.

This situation virtually guarantees a competitive new generation of players, who will inherit the best of Moroccan football’s current ‘golden generation’.

A positive sign of this process is Ayyoub Bouaddi’s breakthrough at this World Cup. His nomination for the Kopa Trophy confirms that Morocco’s youth system continues to produce talent ready for the top flight.

Thus, the ‘Lions of the Atlas’ bid farewell to the World Cup having laid the foundations to remain amongst the elite.

The combination of the experience of their Ballon d'Or nominees and the fresh perspective of young players such as Bouaddi allows them to look forward with optimism to the road to the 2030 World Cup, where they will also be one of the host nations.