Morocco
FIFA #13
The 2022 semi-finalists who became the first African and Arab nation to reach the last four. The Atlas Lions shocked the world and their fanbase is the loudest in any stadium they enter.
๐ In the US
Based in the New York area, where the North African diaspora is concentrated and the Atlas Lions have a genuine support network built over years of qualifying drama. Expect the red scarves and drums to be loud at MetLife โ the 2022 semi-final run gave every Moroccan fan in the tristate area a story they still tell at family dinners.
Style
Well-organized and hard to break down, pressing aggressively and transitioning quickly to dangerous counter-attacks.
Rivals
Algeria. The North African derby is one of football's most politically charged fixtures โ their World Cup qualifying meetings carry a weight that the scorelines alone cannot capture.
Home Base
Football arrived in Morocco under colonial rule and was immediately adopted into something distinctly North African. The Atlas Lions play in front of roaring, flag-waving crowds where every home game feels like a political statement and a party simultaneously. Casablanca's Stade Mohammed V is one of Africa's great football grounds.
Human Rights
Freedom House
Political rights and civil liberties score (higher = more free)
Reporters Without Borders
Press Freedom Index ranking (lower = more free, out of 180 countries)
UN Human Development Index
Human Development Index score (higher = more developed, 0โ1 scale)
Transparency International
Perceived public sector corruption โ higher is cleaner
ILGA World
Legal status of same-sex relationships