Morocco continues unbeaten run to reach FIFA World Cup Round of 16

Morocco has advanced to the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in North America, maintaining an unbeaten streak that has drawn comparisons to their historic semifinal appearance four years ago. The North African side, representing the Indigenous Amazigh and broader Moroccan heritage on the world stage, enters the knockout phase after a successful campaign in Group C. While the current squad features significant changes from the 2022 team, the new generation has proven its resilience. According to Al Jazeera, the team secured their place in the last-16 after defeating the Netherlands in a competitive penalty shootout on Monday. This follows a group stage where they competed alongside Brazil, Haiti, and Scotland. On 24 June 2026, the team showcased their offensive form in Atlanta, Georgia, where Gessime Yassine and Soufiane Rahimi were among the scorers in a 4-0 victory against Haiti. Only a handful of players remain from the side that reached the semifinals in Qatar, including Achraf Hakimi, Noussair Mazraoui, Azzedine Ounahi, and Bilal El-Khanouss. The tactical approach has also evolved; while the 2022 team under former manager Walid Regragui was noted for a defensive style and lower possession, the current class has faced scrutiny to match the heights of their predecessors. Mohammad Alrfae, an analyst for Al Ahli SC, told Al Jazeera that the previous iteration relied heavily on the experience of players from major European clubs. The current Moroccan side now looks to silence critics by attempting to match or exceed the deep tournament run of 2022. They continue their journey in the knockout rounds as they aim to represent the African continent and their supporters once again on the global stage.