Morocco

The Atlas Lions are Africa's modern standard-bearer, blending disciplined defending with technical flair from a deep pool of European-raised talent. Morocco's fanbase is among the most passionate in world football, turning every match — home or away — into a sea of red. The team's historic run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals reset expectations for what an African or Arab nation could achieve on the sport's biggest stage.

Morocco's federation dates to the mid-1950s, shortly after independence, and the team won its only Africa Cup of Nations title in 1976. The program had long been a continental contender but broke through globally at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals, beating Spain and Portugal along the way. Achraf Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech and coach Walid Regragui became household names during that historic run, cementing a new golden era for Moroccan football.