In the sixth round of Group E in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, Morocco hosted Niger and delivered a resounding 5-0 victory. With six wins from six matches and 18 points, Morocco secured the top spot in Group E two rounds early, officially qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. As the dark horse of the last World Cup, Morocco will participate in the tournament for the third consecutive edition, setting a record in the nation’s football history.
In the 2026 World Cup, Africa has 9.5 slots, with nine group winners qualifying directly. Morocco, leading Group E, boasts exceptional strength: FIFA ranking 12th and a total squad market value of €400 million, far superior to Tanzania, Zambia, Niger, and Congo.
Facing Niger at home, Morocco fielded their full-strength squad: goalkeeper Bono, defensive leader Achraf, and midfield/attack spearheaded by Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz.
In the 26th minute, Niger’s player Goumi was sent off, leaving Morocco to attack with a numerical advantage. Morocco’s offense was relentless: Saiwari scored twice, followed by goals from Kaabi, Igamane, and Onasi, completing a dominant 5-0 home win.
Over six World Cup qualifiers, Morocco won all matches, scoring 19 goals and conceding only 2. They became the first African team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. At Moulay Abdellah Prince Stadium, 68,000 Moroccan fans witnessed the historic qualification and celebrated the triumph.
Moroccan football’s progress is remarkable. In September 2010, Morocco was ranked 95th in FIFA, lower than China (82nd). Fifteen years later, Morocco rose to 12th, while China fell to 94th—a completely different level.
Qualifying for the 2026 World Cup marks Morocco’s 7th appearance in the tournament. At the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Morocco created a historic dark horse story, topping a group that included Croatia and Belgium. They defeated Spain in the Round of 16 and pulled off a shock win over Portugal in the quarter-finals, reaching the semi-finals.
Globally, Morocco is now considered a strong team. Key players include:
Bono, 34-year-old goalkeeper
Achraf, PSG winger, market value €80 million
Brahim Díaz, Real Madrid winger, €40 million
En-Nesyri, €24 million
Ben-Sagir, Leverkusen winger, €28 million
Hannous, Stuttgart midfielder, €28 million
The total squad market value is €400 million, higher than Egypt (€160 million) and Algeria (€150 million).
So far, 17 teams have qualified for the 2026 World Cup:
Hosts: USA, Mexico, Canada
Asia: Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Australia
South America: Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia
Oceania: New Zealand
Africa: Morocco
