Aqratiq: Moroccan football achievements have turned into a form of soft diplomatic power.
In an analytical reading of the reality of the sports and political scene, international relations expert Lahcen Aqratiq confirmed that recent Moroccan football achievements go beyond mere sports victories to form an unprecedented soft diplomatic power that reflects a comprehensive development of the kingdom.
Aqratiq, who was a guest on the "Hespress Debate" program, explained that the football epic in Monterrey made billions of people around the world search for Morocco through digital platforms to learn about its location, geography, population, and infrastructure.
He pointed out that this dynamic is part of an upward trajectory that attracted 19.8 million tourists in 2025, attributing this success to the strong infrastructure and strategic investments led by the formidable strategic mind of King Mohammed VI. He considered that the reception of the President of Mexico and the governors of American states by the Moroccan national team and taking pictures with them is one of the greatest achievements that affirm Morocco's high status on the international stage.
On the psychological and social level, Aqratiq noted a significant shift in the Moroccan mentality, stating that the current World Cup achievement is a confirmation and consolidation of the successes of Qatar 2022, where coach Walid Regragui contributed to raising the ceiling of ambition and the level of nationalism among Moroccans. He highlighted that this psychological change has made Moroccans convinced of the realism of their ambition to win the World Cup.
The speaker in the "Hespress Debate" also pointed out that Moroccan competencies are now managing major national projects, citing the automotive, aviation, and Tangier Med port sectors, where management has gradually shifted from foreign teams between 2007 and 2008 to entirely Moroccan competencies today.
He explained that the Moroccan citizen now possesses an international dimension and is not inferior in competence to his Japanese, South Korean, or European counterparts, emphasizing that local elites are increasingly heading towards the world's top universities.