Atlas Lions and the second round.. A World Cup memory writing the chapters of Moroccan glory.
The knockout stages of the World Cup have never been a routine stop for the Moroccan national team, as each qualification to the second round carries with it a different story and awakens deep memories in the hearts of the fans, from the first historic achievement in Mexico 1986, through the eternal epic in Qatar 2022, to the new appointment in "World Cup 2026," where the "Atlas Lions" return once again to the decisive rounds with ambitions greater than ever before.
The Moroccan national team entered the 1986 World Cup finals without being among the favorites to reach the second round, but they defied all expectations.
The "Lions" began their journey with draws against Poland and England, before defeating Portugal with a historic three-goal victory, topping their group ahead of prestigious European teams and becoming the first Arab and African team to reach the second round in World Cup history.
On June 17, 1986, Morocco faced West Germany in the Round of 16 in the Mexican city of Monterrey. Despite a strong resistance against Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthäus, the adventure ended with a last-minute goal scored by Matthäus from a free kick in the 88th minute, but the Moroccan team left with their heads held high after writing the first golden page for Arabs and Africans in the "World Cup."
After a 36-year wait, Morocco returned to the knockout stages of the World Cup finals, but this time with different ambitions and a generation that believes in its ability to make history, led by former national coach Walid Regragui.
On December 6, 2022, the Moroccan team faced Spain, one of the top favorites to win. After 120 minutes of tactical discipline and defensive resilience, the penalty shootout smiled upon the "Atlas Lions," thanks to the brilliance of goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, allowing Morocco to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in its history. The story did not stop there; the Moroccan team continued its journey by eliminating Portugal with a clean goal, becoming the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, in an achievement that amazed the world and changed everyone's perception of Moroccan football.