FIFA chief Gianni Infantino applauds Morocco’s outstanding 2026 World Cup display

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has paid tribute to the Moroccan national team following their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, praising the Atlas Lions for their memorable campaign and historic achievements in the tournament.

Morocco’s impressive World Cup journey came to an end at the quarter-final stage after a 2-0 defeat to France, but the Atlas Lions once again earned widespread admiration for their performances on football’s biggest stage.

However, Infantino has taken to social media to congratulate Morocco for their outstanding performance at the global showpiece.

“Your journey was full of wonderful moments, and you gave your football-loving country a lot of joy,” Infantino wrote.

The FIFA president also highlighted Morocco’s attacking display during the tournament, noting that the Atlas Lions scored a record 10 goals—their highest tally in a single World Cup edition.

According to Infantino, that impressive return helped Morocco achieve another historic milestone by becoming the first African nation to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup on two separate occasions.

“The ten goals you scored in this tournament, your highest tally in a single edition, helped you become the first African team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup twice,” he added.

Infantino concluded his message by looking ahead to the next World Cup, which Morocco will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal in 2030, expressing his excitement about returning to the North African nation.

“As always, it was a pleasure to host you, and we look forward to meeting you again and enjoying your warm welcome in 2030.”

Morocco once again enhanced its growing reputation as one of Africa’s leading football nations with another impressive World Cup campaign. After making history by reaching the semi-finals in Qatar in 2022, the Atlas Lions followed it up with another deep run in 2026, reaching the last eight before bowing out to France.

The tournament showcased the quality of Walid Regragui’s side, who combined disciplined defending with exciting attacking football to score a record 10 goals and compete strongly against some of the world’s biggest footballing nations.

Meanwhile, attention now shifts to the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where France will take on Spain in a blockbuster European showdown, while England face defending champions Argentina for a place in the final.

Although Morocco’s dream of lifting the World Cup came to an end in the quarter-finals, the Atlas Lions leave the tournament with their heads held high after another historic campaign that further cemented their status among world football’s elite and reinforced their position as one of Africa’s greatest football success stories.