That night at Qatar’s Al Bayt Stadium remains a deep memory in Moroccan football history. A 2-0 semifinal loss to France ended the Atlas Lions’ fairy-tale run. But the defeat was not only heartbreak — it taught them how costly small mistakes can be on the biggest stage.
Four years later, the two teams meet again at the World Cup. In the 2026 World Cup quarterfinal against France, Morocco takes the field carrying the emotion of revenge and the lessons of the past, determined to write new history.
That confidence was reflected in the words of midfielder Azzedine Ounahi. In an interview with FIFA+, recalling the 2022 semifinal, he said: “We know what mistakes we made. We had the chance for a better result in that match, but we paid the price for some small errors.”
Ounahi’s reflection mirrors the mindset of the current Morocco side. The team from four years ago is now far more mature. A mentality of analyzing their own strengths and weaknesses to move forward has taken root within the squad. The squad itself has also changed. Many players from the Qatar World Cup remain, while the addition of a talented new generation has added depth. The coaching staff has changed as well.
Ounahi believes this renewal is Morocco’s greatest strength. “We now have a new coaching staff and a fresh group of players,” he said. “There’s a certain freshness within this team that can rattle any opponent.”
Morocco knows well the strength of the opponent ahead. France, built around Kylian Mbappe, remains one of the strongest contenders for the title. Their experience and squad depth in World Cup knockout rounds will be a major test for Morocco. Ounahi acknowledged as much: “When you’re playing a quarterfinal against former world champions like France, it goes without saying how tough the fight will be. But nothing is impossible in football.”
That belief is what drives Morocco forward. At the Qatar World Cup, they eliminated powerhouses like Spain and Portugal, showing that organized defense, quick counterattacks and an unyielding mentality can beat any team. That same strategy may again be their main weapon this time. But unlike before, that plan is now paired with the maturity of experience and lessons learned from past mistakes.
France, for its part, is not taking the opponent lightly. Mbappe has already warned his teammates that beating Morocco will require their best performance. But Morocco’s tone is different now. They no longer want to carry the regret of four years ago. Instead, they want to turn that memory into strength and prove their ability anew on another big World Cup stage.
That night at Al Bayt brought Morocco to tears. Will this quarterfinal in Boston make them smile instead? The answer will come on the pitch. But one thing is certain: this Morocco side is not stepping out simply carrying memories of the past — they want to transform that memory into the inspiration to change history.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report