DOHA. The 2022 World Cup was built for such a scenario. An Arab national team is playing a historic World Cup quarter final match in the first tournament in the Middle East and the Arab world.
The stage is set. Everybody is ready—players, coaches, fans – a whole nation. Morocco will play Portugal on Saturday.
Despite matches involving two of the competition's biggest contenders on Friday - Brazil and Argentina - the heart of the tournament beats for the Atlas Lions.
Since their penalty shootout victory against Spain on Tuesday, Qatar and the Arab population of Qatar has adopted Morocco as the new ‘home team’ of the tournament.
Souq Waqif is the centre of events and celebrations. Moroccan flags are waved from cars, in shops, and on terraces. It is safe to say that Qatar is in a Moroccan mania.
This isn't exclusive to Doha. In Morocco, the country has been anticipating the game since Tuesday. TV shows are replaying the penalties over and over again, and no one is talking about anything besides football.
And it’s significant. The national team has qualified for the quarter finals for the first time - the first Arab country to reach this stage of the tournament.
A photo is better than 1000 words#MAR #FIFAWorldCup #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/GTo6jD3ZqT
— BabaGol (@BabaGol_) December 6, 2022
The quiet stars
It all goes back to the field, where the team's big heart and sacrifice has paved the way to this unique achievement.
Before the tournament, everyone spoke about Hakim Ziyech, Achraf Hakimi and Nouseir Mazraoui, but now there are new heroes. Yassin Bonou, Sofyan Amrabat and Azzedine Ounahi.
"We were stunned by number eight. I don't remember his name," said Luis Enrique, Spain's coach, after their last 16 encounter that saw his team fail to score a single penalty and ultimately lost him his job.
"It was Ounahi", one of the journalists said. "Madre mia... where did this guy come from? He had a really good game! [He] surprised me a lot because Hakimi is well-known, Ziyech is well-known, En-Nesiri we know very well as he plays in Spain, Amrabat we know him, and he plays very well, but [Ounahi] didn't stop running. We didn't know what to do with him, and he surprised us. He is an exceptional player. Good luck to Morocco".
Ounahi hasn’t just impressed Luis Enrique, he is one of the rising stars of the competition.
After he and Amrabat diminished Pedri, Gavi and Busquets, now the expectation is for them to do the same to Portugal's hottest team in the competition.
سوق واقف، الليلة.
— Uri Levy (@Levyninho) December 6, 2022
סוק וואקף. מרכז העצבים של הקהל הערבי במונדיאל הזה, היה אש הלילה pic.twitter.com/WD6x98WQld
Another kind of derby
In their journey in Qatar, Morocco had already played and won against two European teams in what could be considered derby games.
Belgium, with its Moroccan population and players of Moroccan origin, and Spain, which colonised parts of Morocco, and is still in ex-territorial control of Mellia and Ceuta.
Next comes Portugal who, in the same way as Spain, reminds the north Africans of the days of Al Andalus, and the Islamic Caliphate in the Iberian Peninsula.
"We can go and try and win the World Cup", said coach Oualid Regragui in a post-match interview. "Yes it will be difficult, but we are already here and we can dream".
Come Saturday, all eyes, from Casablanca to Doha and throughout Europe, will be on the defence.
Naif Aguerd is injured, Romain Saïs is in doubt, and, without both of their starting centre backs , it will be a tricky task to stop Bruno Fernandes, Gonçalo Ramos and the gang.
But with Ounahi, Amrabat, Hakimi, Ziyech and Boufal – and the rest of the, currently exploding, Moroccan spirit – don't count out the Moroccans.
They can shock the world another time, exactly like they have been doing for the past three weeks.
Edited by Alex Smith
Morocco... THIS WAY!! 🎉🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/VosKacZOcj
— Maghrib Foot (@MaghribFoot) December 6, 2022
Morocco is getting ready for their best achievement in World Cup, playing in the quarter finals against Portugal. Uri Levy followed them from the win against Spain to the crucial moments on Saturday.
The 2022 World Cup group stage is over, and Uri Levy as usual recaps the best moments of the decisive matchday.
After nine years at Liverpool, Salah left for Trabzonspor — the money, the family, and the love of being the underdog all played their part.
Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Final, ending Lionel Messi's dream World Cup with heartbreak.
Thousands of Argentina fans transformed Times Square before the 2026 World Cup final, all united to thank Lionel Messi.
Spain were ruthless in Dallas as Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo starred, leaving France's Bastille Day to end in deep disappointment for Deschamps.
Norway outplayed England for most of a sweltering Miami classic, but two Bellingham strikes in extra time sent the Three Lions to the semis.
Egypt pushed Argentina to the limit in a 3-2 World Cup thriller, but left the pitch furious at the referee and convinced justice was denied.
Ayoub Bouaddi chose Morocco over France at 18 and lit up a quarter-final about colonial history, dual identity, and what it means to belong.
Merino's late goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over Portugal as Ronaldo left the World Cup stage in tears in what many believe was his final match.
Egypt beat Australia on penalties in Dallas to reach the last 16 for the first time, with Salah's Panenka the highlight of a historic night.
Diop headed Morocco level in the 91st minute and Saibari slotted the winner in the shootout as Morocco reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Messi and the Jordanian Messi both scored as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, with records broken and keffiyehs flying in the stands.
France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, but the two-hour lightning delay stole the show, making it officially the longest World Cup game ever.
Saibari scored inside two minutes as Morocco beat Scotland 1-0 in Boston, leaving the Scots on the very brink of 2026 World Cup elimination.
Senegal relived their legendary 2002 magic for an hour, but Kylian Mbappe struck twice to sink them and seal France's 3-1 win in New Jersey.
Qatar stole a last-gasp draw from Switzerland and Morocco held Brazil 1-1 — two results that announced Arab football’s full arrival at 2026.
Azteca stadium hosts its third World Cup as Mexico City buzzes with pride, protest, and the deep belief that football has always lived here.
Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig to win the Conference League in the most romantic underdog final in European football history.
Maccabi Tel Aviv edge Hapoel Be'er Sheva 2–1 in a dramatic Israeli Cup Final at Teddy Stadium, denying the champions a historic Double.
With tensions easing, Iran’s 2026 World Cup participation remains uncertain, as FIFA, politics, and regional dynamics collide.
CAF shocks African football by stripping Senegal’s title and awarding Morocco the AFCON crown after a chaotic final decision.
From silent protests to daring escapes, Iran’s women footballers turned a tournament into a global story of courage, politics, and survival.
Iran’s women’s team protested, faced threats, and signaled SOS in Australia—now their fate is uncertain amid calls for asylum.
From geopolitics to spectacle, Trump looms over World Cup 2026—reshaping football, power, and culture in the biggest tournament ever.
FIFA joins Gaza rebuilding plans, restoring stadiums, pitches, and youth programs, supporting football and hope in the Strip.
From Nigeria’s Mavlon academy to Viktoria Plzeň and the Europa League dream: Salim Fago’s journey is just beginning in Europe.
From Benzema’s shock move to Ronaldo’s protest, a chain reaction in Saudi football is shaking the entire project and the global game.
A Hitchcock-style AFCON final in Rabat saw chaos, controversy and brilliance as Senegal stunned Morocco to claim their second African title.
From libraries to stadiums, Morocco lives football. As AFCON 2025 nears its climax, passion, politics, and ambition collide nationwide.
From rain-soaked Rabat to a deafening semifinal night, Morocco edge Nigeria on penalties and stand 90 minutes from an AFCON title.
Morocco made a tremendous journey in the 2022 World Cup, all the way to the semi-finals. Uri Levy picked the heroes of The Atlas Lions.