Taj al-Din al-Husseini: Sports are a strategic tool to enhance the sovereignty and status of nations.
Taj Eddin Al-Husseini, a professor of international relations and an expert in strategic issues, confirmed that the status of countries within the international community is no longer measured solely by the size of their military or economic power, but culture and sports have become among the most prominent tools of soft power that contribute to enhancing national sovereignty and strengthening the position of countries within the balance of international power.
Al-Husseini explained during the program "Strategic Dimensions" on Hespress that the transformations witnessed by the international system have produced a new concept of power, which is no longer limited to traditional indicators related to the economy and armament, but now includes the ability of countries to influence and cultural and sports radiance, considering them as two essential levers to enhance international presence and gain respect within the family of nations.
In this context, the speaker recalled the remarkable performance of the Moroccan national football team, considering that the match they played against the Brazilian national team on June 13th was a new milestone confirming that Moroccan achievements in football were not merely temporary or exceptional results.
Al-Husseini pointed out that some voices considered the Moroccan team's reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 to be merely a "stroke of luck," but the performance they delivered against Brazil, a team with a rich history and five World Cup titles, dispelled these interpretations and confirmed that Moroccan football has become a formidable force on the international stage.
He added that most observers agreed that the Moroccan team imposed its dominance during the first half of the match, before the Brazilian team regained its balance in the second half after equalizing, which led some analysts to consider the result as a "draw with the taste of victory" for Morocco, given the value of the opponent and the technical level displayed by the Moroccan players.