Morocco turns into the one Arab nation, and first African nation since Nigeria in 1994, to be ranked fifth on the earth.
Revealed On 15 Nov 2026
Morocco have change into the primary Arab nation to enter FIFA’s high 5 males’s workforce rankings after transferring up by two locations from their earlier greatest place of quantity seven.
The 2-time World Cup quarterfinalists leapt forward of Brazil and Portugal on factors on Sunday, following their robust efficiency in latest continental soccer matches.
Morocco are additionally the primary African and Arab nation to achieve back-to-back quarterfinals on the World Cup, the place the continent’s top-ranked nation was knocked out by France in consecutive tournaments.
The Atlas Lions’ 2026 end didn’t enhance or match their semifinal run on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the place they surpassed all expectations to change into Africa and the Arab world’s first semifinalists and the darlings of the match.
Following the World Cup in North America, Mohamed Ouhabi’s workforce have maintained a 100% file within the present spherical of qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027.
Morocco thumped Niger 5-0 of their newest qualification match on Friday, because the star-studded lineup shone in entrance of a raucous house crowd in Rabat.
AFCON’s defending champions lead Group A by 9 factors.
Nevertheless, their AFCON title is contentious and is topic to a listening to on the Court docket of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) following an enchantment by shedding finalists Senegal.
Senegal have been stripped of this year’s AFCON title and Morocco have been declared champions by the Confederation of African Soccer (CAF), regardless of Senegal beating the hosts 1-0 after additional time in January’s ultimate in Rabat.
Senegal walked off the pitch for 14 minutes after a penalty was awarded in opposition to them late in regulation time, with a number of gamers returning to the dressing room in protest earlier than they resumed play.
Morocco missed the spot kick, sending the match into additional time, the place Senegal scored the winner to safe victory.
Nevertheless, they have been stripped of the title two months later after CAF’s Enchantment Board dominated that Senegal had forfeited the match by strolling off the pitch, overturning the consequence and awarding a 3-0 victory to Morocco.
The controversial 2025 title was the northwestern African aspect’s second AFCON title since 1976.
Morocco is likely one of the cohost nations for the FIFA World Cup 2030.
