Atlas Lions qualify for World Cup 2026 round of 16
via Le Matin9 min read
The Atlas Lions have secured their qualification for the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup by finishing second in Group C, behind Brazil. This marks Morocco's second consecutive qualification for this stage of the tournament. The team, led by Mohamed Ouahbi, will now head to Monterrey, Mexico, for their next match. This return to Mexico holds symbolic significance, occurring forty years after the 1986 Mexico World Cup, where the national team made history as the first African and Arab team to advance past the group stage. The qualification follows a strong performance, including a 1-1 draw against Brazil and a 1-0 victory over Scotland, which secured their spot in the knockout phase.
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Football consultant, author, and writer Ahmed El Falah will be a guest on the program 'L'Info en Face' this Thursday, June 25, 2026. Hosted by Rachid Hallaouy, the debate will focus on the question: "2026 World Cup / Round of 16: qualification, is that all that matters?" The discussion follows Morocco's 4-2 victory against Haiti, which secured their qualification for the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup.
Royal Air Maroc RAM is introducing 12 special flights between Casablanca and Monterrey, Mexico, to transport over 3,000 Atlas Lions supporters for the 2026 World Cup. Six outbound flights will operate from Saturday to Monday, followed by six return flights from Tuesday to Thursday. This marks RAM's first service to Monterrey and Mexico, utilizing latest-generation wide-body aircraft for direct flights with an estimated duration of 11 hours each way. A round-trip economy class ticket is priced at 10,000 dirhams, non-modifiable and non-refundable. Hamid Addou, CEO of Royal Air Maroc, stated that the company, as the official carrier of the National Football Team, quickly mobilized to meet the expectations of Moroccan fans. Passengers must possess a valid Mexican visa or a valid visa from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, or a Schengen Area member state to enter Mexico. Tickets go on sale starting 6:00 PM on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at Royal Air Maroc commercial agencies in Morocco and via the dedicated portal "https://golions.royalairmaroc.com".
Morocco is advancing its automotive industry ambitions, marked by the 8th edition of the Automotive Industrial Competitiveness Exhibition SCIA in K茅nitra. The event, attended by Minister of Industry and Commerce Ryad Mezzour and Governor of K茅nitra province Abdelhamid El Mazid, signifies a shift from a focus on automotive subcontracting to industrial competitiveness. This change reflects Morocco's goal to upgrade its automotive sector, enhance local integration, and position itself in electric, connected, and decarbonized mobility. The SCIA 2026 features over 200 exhibitors from twelve countries, including Morocco, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, China, Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia. These exhibitors represent various automotive fields such as engineering, equipment manufacturing, logistics, and training centers. Minister Mezzour highlighted Morocco's significant progress in the automotive industry, attributing it to the vision of King Mohammed VI. He noted that Morocco has surpassed major European countries in production capacity and become a leading innovator in the sector. Rachid Machou, president of AMICA, emphasized the exhibition's role in strengthening national industrial competitiveness, focusing on developing local subcontracting, integrating first and second-tier suppliers, and accelerating technology transfer. A key theme of this edition is the transition to electric vehicles. The program includes five panels covering local integra