Previous World Cup appearances: 6Best performance: Fourth place (2022)First appearance: 1970 (Mexico)Top goal scorer: Youssef En-Nesyri (3)Most appearances: Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech (10)Player to watch: Brahim DiazFIFA world ranking: 8The FIFA World Cup begins on June 11. You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listFour years ago, the Morocco made history by becoming the first African and Arab team to reach the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, eliminating Spain and Portugal along the way, before narrowly losing to France.They come into the 2026 edition again boasting a strong squad and hoping to replicate – or go even further – than their sensational 2022 run.However, the Atlas Lions also find themselves in rather more chaotic circumstances this time around with a managerial departure less than three months out from the tournament, and bruised by a wild Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final that provoked a diplomatic row with Senegal.AFCON hangoverThe squad is still dealing with the fallout from one of the most incendiary episodes in African football history.January’s final in Rabat descended into chaos when Senegal’s players walked off the pitch in protest after Morocco were awarded a contentious stoppage-time penalty following a VAR review with the game at 0-0.The decision to award the spot kick sparked trouble among the Senegal fans in the crowd. Eighteen spectators were were later jailed following the disruption. Advertisement After Senegal finally returned to the pitch after a lengthy delay, Real Madrid and Morocco star Brahim Diaz missed the penalty with a poor attempt at a panenka. Senegal went on to win the game 1-0 with a goal in extra-time.However, the saga did not end there …
