When Morocco reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 as the first African and Arab nation ever to do so, it was more than a sensation – it was the beginning of an era. Four years later, the "Golden Generation" around captain Achraf Hakimi faces the next major test: At the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, the "Atlas Lions" want to prove that their fairy tale from Doha was not a fluke, but the start of a lasting position at the top of world football.
At the center of this team stands Achraf Hakimi, the right-back of Paris Saint-Germain. At 27 years old, the Madrid-born player has reached the ideal footballing maturity. Hakimi is not only one of the best full-backs in the world, but also the emotional figurehead of a generation that has changed Moroccan football forever. His goal against Spain in the 2022 round of 16 – that cheeky Panenka penalty – became the symbol of this new self-confidence.
But Hakimi is far from alone. With Hakim Ziyech, who is embarking on new paths after his time in the Premier League, Sofyan Amrabat as a stabilizing force in midfield and Youssef En-Nesyri as a dangerous center forward, coach Walid Regragui still has an experienced framework at his disposal. In addition, rising talents such as Bilal El Khannouss from VfB Stuttgart and Eliesse Ben Seghir are meant to provide the team with fresh momentum. In goal is Yassine Bounou, still one of world football's most charismatic goalkeepers, whose saves in the penalty shootout against Spain in 2022 also went down in football history.
Walid Regragui, who took over the team shortly before the 2022 World Cup and led them to the historic semi-final appearance, stepped down in March 2026 after the Africa Cup of Nations. His legacy is now being continued by Mohamed Ouahbi, who has the task of steering the Atlas Lions through the tournament in North America. The tactical foundation – a compact defense with lightning-fast counterattacking moments – remains the team's cornerstone. Nevertheless, the Moroccans have proven in recent years that they can also play a more dominant style when the situation demands it. Particularly the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 and the qualifying matches served as important maturation processes in which Ouahbi has above all advanced the integration of young top talents to selectively strengthen the experienced core of the team.
An underestimated factor will be the support of the fans. In Qatar, tens of thousands of Moroccan supporters already turned every stadium into a home advantage cauldron. In North America, where the Moroccan diaspora is also large – particularly in Canada and the USA – this phenomenon is likely to repeat itself. The emotional component, coupled with the now confident style of play, makes Morocco an uncomfortable opponent for any favorite.
The goals are clearly stated, even if they are communicated cautiously in public: The 2022 semi-final should not be the end, but the springboard. Internally, there is already talk of a final – and why not? The mix of experienced stars in the prime of their careers, hungry young players and a coach who knows the team inside and out provides the best conditions.
For African football as a whole, Morocco's path is of immense importance. Should the team go far again, it would establish the continent once and for all as a serious force in world football. The Atlas Lions proved in 2022 that they could write what was long thought unthinkable. In 2026, they want to add the next chapter – and perhaps the most beautiful one of all.