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Rabat – Morocco’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup is increasingly being recognized as one of the toughest paths any team has faced in the tournament, with the Atlas Lions repeatedly facing football’s elite while other contenders benefited from far more favorable draws.
French outlet Foot Mercato previously described Morocco as “the least spared team” of the competition after the Atlas Lions drew consecutive clashes with FIFA’s highest-ranked nations.
Morocco’s difficult route began in the group stage, where they faced fifth-ranked Brazil. Although the Atlas Lions finished level on points with the South Americans after holding them to a draw, they placed second on goal difference, setting up an immediate Round of 32 showdown against the seventh-ranked Netherlands.
After eliminating the Dutch on penalties, Morocco defeated Canada before eventually falling 2-0 to world number one France in the quarterfinals.
By the end of their campaign, Morocco had faced three FIFA top-10 nations, Brazil, the Netherlands, and France, making them one of the few teams to repeatedly take on the tournament’s strongest opposition.
The contrast became even more striking following Argentina’s run to the semifinals.
The defending champions became the first team in FIFA World Cup history to reach the final four without facing a single opponent ranked inside FIFA’s top 10. Their route included Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland before eventually meeting England in the semifinal.
While Argentina cannot choose its opponents, the disparity between the two paths has fueled debate among supporters over the expanded 48-team tournament format and how the knockout bracket unfolded.
Morocco’s journey has also been compared to those of semifinalists France and Spain, both of whom are considered to have faced demanding opposition. However, unlike those European powers, Morocco encountered elite-ranked sides from the very beginning of the tournament, leaving little margin for error.
Despite their elimination, the Atlas Lions leave the United States, Canada, and Mexico having once again demonstrated they can compete with the world’s best.
For many observers, Morocco’s quarterfinal finish is made even more impressive by the caliber of opponents they were required to overcome along the way.
