World Cup: A look back at Morocco's six appearances | OneFootball

What you need to know about Morocco's six World Cup campaigns

Morocco/@FIFA

By defeating Niger 5-0, Morocco became the first African nation to secure a spot in the final stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Before turning the page to the American edition, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the Atlas Lions’ first six World Cup appearances.

Mexico 1970

Morocco made its World Cup debut in Mexico in 1970. After a hard-fought loss to West Germany (2-1), the Atlas Lions also fell to Peru (3-0) before earning their first ever point with a 1-1 draw against Bulgaria.

Mexico 1986

The Atlas Lions stunned the football world in 1986, reaching the Round of 16 after topping their group with a thrilling 3-1 win over Portugal and holding both Poland and England to goalless draws. Their journey ended with a narrow defeat to West Germany (0-1).

United States 1994

The American World Cup campaign was disappointing, with three consecutive losses to Belgium (1-0), Saudi Arabia (2-1), and the Netherlands (2-1), leaving Morocco at the bottom of their group.

France 1998

Mustapha Hadji and his teammates showed great spirit in the 1998 edition, but were eliminated in the group stage after Norway’s controversial victory over Brazil (2-1). Despite a commanding win over Scotland (3-0), the Atlas Lions finished third in their group with 4 points.

Russia 2018

In Russia, Morocco held Spain to a thrilling 2-2 draw but fell to Portugal (1-0) and Iran (1-0).

Qatar 2022

Morocco's historic run in Qatar remains etched in the memories of African football fans. Achraf Hakimi and his teammates reached the semi-finals, knocking out heavyweights like Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before bowing out to France.