World Cup 2026: Morocco bag $31.5m after Atlas Lions reach back-to-back quarterfinals

Morocco have secured at least $31.5 million in FIFA prize money after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Canada.

The Atlas Lions continued Africa’s strong presence on the global stage as second-half goals from Azzedine Ounahi and Soufiane Rahimi sealed another historic achievement for Mohamed Ouahbi’s side at Houston Stadium.

Ounahi struck twice after the interval before Rahimi added a late third as Morocco booked a place in the last eight for the second consecutive World Cup tournament.

The victory also guaranteed the North Africans a major financial reward under FIFA’s expanded prize distribution system for the 2026 competition.

Morocco guaranteed record FIFA payout

FIFA approved a record total distribution of $871 million for participating nations at the 2026 World Cup, significantly increasing the financial rewards available to teams.

By reaching the quarterfinals, Morocco have already secured $19 million in performance-based prize money awarded to teams finishing between fifth and eighth place.

That amount comes in addition to FIFA’s standard payments for qualification and tournament preparation.

Each nation that qualified for the World Cup received $10 million in qualification funding as well as $2.5 million to support preparation costs.

Combined with the quarterfinal performance reward, Morocco are now guaranteed a total of $31.5 million from the tournament.

Atlas Lions can still earn more

Morocco’s financial rewards could rise even further if they continue their impressive World Cup journey.

A fourth-place finish would earn the Atlas Lions $39.5 million in total payments, while finishing third would increase the figure to $41.5 million.

The World Cup runners-up are set to receive $45.5 million overall, while the eventual champions would collect a total of $62.5 million including qualification and preparation funds.

The numbers underline the growing financial importance of deep World Cup runs, particularly for African nations seeking to strengthen football development and infrastructure.

France await in quarterfinal showdown

Morocco’s next challenge comes against France in the quarterfinals.

The French reached the last eight after defeating Paraguay 1-0 thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappe.

The meeting will provide another major test for Ouahbi’s side, who have already eliminated the Netherlands and Canada during the knockout stages.

Morocco’s latest success further strengthens the legacy of a team that captured global attention in 2022 when the Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semifinal.

Now, with another quarterfinal appearance secured and millions guaranteed, Morocco’s remarkable rise on the world stage continues.