With Brahim Diaz, Morocco has never lost. Since choosing to join the Lions of the Atlas, the Real Madrid player has accompanied a Moroccan squad that has entered a new dimension, marked by results, confidence, and world ambitions.
Ismael Saibari joins Bayern Munich with a powerful symbol. The Lion of the Atlas will wear the number 34 in tribute to Abdelhak Nouri , his friend, who suffered a serious medical emergency in 2017 while playing for Ajax.
Lamine Yamal fully assumes his choice to wear Spain’s jersey rather than Morocco’s. But the young Barcelona striker keeps a close eye on the Atlas Lions, whom he follows closely in this World Cup.
Canada attacks with volume, width and intensity. But this ambition opens gaps: behind the fullbacks, between the center-backs and on transitions. For Morocco, the key will be to resist the initial onslaught, then quickly attack the open spaces.
Canada arrives facing Morocco with productive attacking play, very active flanks and a strong ability to create danger in the opponent’s box. But Opta statistics from their last three matches also reveal areas to attack: behind the fullbacks, when pressing is broken and on transitions after crosses or corners.
Against the Netherlands, Yassine Bounou qualified his team by stopping a penalty in a completely unprecedented manner. By choosing to remain standing, the goalkeeper invents a bold gesture that is already marking football history.
After Morocco’s victory against the Netherlands in Monterrey, Royal Air Maroc maintained its special service between Mexico and Casablanca . Several return flights are scheduled to allow Moroccan supporters to return to the kingdom after this exceptional World Cup trip.
The victory against the Netherlands weighs more than just the World Cup bracket. It also allows Morocco to widen the gap in the FIFA world rankings , where the Atlas Lions now appear well ahead of the Oranje.
Morocco did not merely secure qualification against the Netherlands. For the BBC, the Atlas Lions have confirmed their new status in world football, following a match they controlled for long periods before winning on penalties.
Morocco secured its qualification for the round of 16 of the World Cup after a breathtaking match against the Netherlands. Following the 1-1 draw after extra time, the Atlas Lions prevailed on penalties, plunging the Dutch press into a severe analysis of Oranje’s failure.
Morocco qualified in dramatic fashion against the Netherlands, in a match that tells less of a crushing dominance than of genuine collective maturity. The Atlas Lions built much, waited long, and ultimately survived an encounter stretched to a penalty shootout.
Morocco qualified on Tuesday for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup . The team eliminated the Netherlands on penalties after a breathtaking final stretch at the BBVA Stadium in Monterrey.