El País hails Morocco as Africa’s standout team at 2026 World Cup

Morocco were the only African side to meet expectations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to Spanish newspaper El País, which said the Atlas Lions preserved the continent’s reputation during a tournament that featured a record 10 African representatives.

The newspaper’s assessment followed the first 48-team World Cup, where Africa received an expanded allocation of places, allowing nine nations to qualify directly for the finals.

Despite the continent’s increased representation, El País concluded that Morocco were the only African team to reach the quarter-finals.

The publication described the Atlas Lions’ campaign as the standout African performance of the tournament, noting that the team once again demonstrated its ability to compete on football’s biggest stage.

In its analysis, reported by Atlasinfo, El País also reflected on Morocco’s long-standing place in African football history. It highlighted that Morocco became only the second African nation to appear at a FIFA World Cup when they competed in Mexico in 1970.

The report also recalled another landmark achievement in 1986, when Morocco became the first African country to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup. Their historic run ended in the round of 16 after Lothar Matthäus scored a late winner for West Germany.

Those achievements, combined with Morocco’s memorable run to the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup, contributed to heightened expectations before the 2026 tournament.

According to El País, Morocco responded positively despite the pressure surrounding the campaign. The newspaper pointed to the appointment of Mohamed Ouahbi as head coach, noting that he was tasked with introducing a more attacking and direct style of football.

Under Ouahbi, Morocco opened their World Cup journey against Brazil before recording victories over Scotland and Haiti during the group stage to progress to the knockout rounds.

The Atlas Lions then overcame the Netherlands in a penalty shootout in the round of 16 before producing a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

For El País, reaching the last eight represented a successful campaign for Morocco, particularly as the country prepares to co-host the next FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.

The newspaper concluded that, while Africa’s expanded representation created greater expectations for the continent at the tournament, Morocco were the team that ultimately delivered.

Their run to the quarter-finals ensured the Atlas Lions remained the continent’s leading performers on the global stage and reinforced their reputation following their historic achievements in previous World Cups.

As preparations begin for the next edition of the tournament, El País believes Morocco’s performance has once again underlined the country’s growing influence in international football and provided Africa with its strongest showing at the 2026 World Cup.