Morocco

Morocco’s return to the FIFA World Cup in 2018 marked their first appearance since 1998, reigniting national pride and showcasing a technically gifted squad. Drawn into Group B alongside Iran, Portugal, and Spain, the Atlas Lions faced a tough campaign. Despite strong performances, they were narrowly defeated by Iran (1–0) and Portugal (1–0), with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the decisive goal in the latter match. In their final group game, Morocco held Spain to a thrilling 2–2 draw, earning their only point of the tournament and exiting with heads held high.

Led by coach Hervé Renard, the team featured standout talents like Hakim Ziyech, Medhi Benatia, and Achraf Hakimi. Though they didn’t advance, Morocco’s dynamic style and passionate fan support left a lasting impression, laying the groundwork for their historic 2022 run to the semi-finals.