Morocco's Atlas Lions qualify for World Cup 2026 round of 16, setting new records
via Le Matin6 min read
Morocco's national football team, the Atlas Lions, have qualified for the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. They secured their spot by defeating Haiti 4-2, finishing second in Group C behind Brazil. The team overcame a two-goal deficit with goals scored by Achraf Hakimi, Ismaël Saibari, Soufiane Rahimi, and Yassine Gessime.
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Ajax has announced the signing of Moroccan defender Fouad Zahouani on a contract that runs until June 30, 2029. The 20-year-old player will initially join Jong Ajax U23, the club's reserve team in Amsterdam, pending the completion of administrative formalities. Born in Casablanca, Zahouani is a product of the Mohammed VI Football Academy. He joined the youth teams of Union Touarga Sport in mid-2024 and was promoted to the first team six months later. A full-back by training, Zahouani contributed to Morocco's victory in the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2025.
AS FAR retained its lead in the Botola championship with 53 points after a 2-2 draw against Renaissance Berkane. Youssef El Fahli and Ahmed Hammoudane scored for AS FAR, while Mounir Chouiar and Haytam Mazouz equalized for Renaissance Berkane, which remains third with 51 points. Maghreb de Fès secured a significant 1-0 victory over Wydad Casablanca, with Soufiane Benjdida scoring the sole goal, increasing his season tally to 20. This win propelled Maghreb de Fès to second place with 52 points, just one point behind AS FAR. Wydad Casablanca, now fifth with 43 points after its fourth consecutive league defeat, appears to be out of the title race. Raja Casablanca also dropped crucial points, losing 2-1 to Union Sportive Yacoub El Mansour. Mathias Oyewusi opened the scoring for Raja, but Zakaria Fati and Hatim Mrabet secured the win for Union Sportive Yacoub El Mansour. This defeat leaves Raja in fourth place with 49 points. In the relegation battle, Olympique Dcheira defeated Ittihad Tanger 2-0, moving to 14th place with 26 points. Difaâ El Jadida also climbed to sixth place with 38 points after a 2-1 win against Union Touarga. Other matches saw Kawkab Marrakech beat FUS Rabat 2-0, while COD Meknès drew 0-0 with Hassania Agadir, and Renaissance Zemamra drew 1-1 with Olympique Safi. With three matches remaining, the title race remains tight between AS FAR, Maghreb de Fès, and Renaissance Berkane, and the fight to avoid relegation is also ongoing.
At the 8th World Congress of United Cities and Local Governments UCLG in Tangier, Abdellatif Maâzouz, President of the Casablanca-Settat region, and Taoufiq Benali, Director of the Casablanca Urban Agency, highlighted the city's efforts to balance attractiveness, housing, and integration. Maâzouz emphasized that a metropolis's appeal extends beyond economic performance to its capacity to welcome and integrate human mobility. Casablanca-Settat, Morocco's leading economic region, hosts 60,902 foreign residents, representing nearly 0.8% of its population and making it the primary destination for migrants nationally. These individuals contribute to various sectors, including agriculture, construction, financial services, and new technologies. Maâzouz advocated for viewing migration as a driver of territorial development, moving beyond a security-focused perspective. He also stressed the potential of the six million Moroccans living abroad, proposing a national platform to connect their skills with regional needs in areas like health, research, innovation, and local governance. He suggested creating national and regional human mobility observatories to anticipate demographic changes and adapt public policies. Benali focused on housing and urban planning, stating that housing is fundamental to sustainable development. He noted that over a billion people globally live in inadequate housing, with affordable options becoming scarce in major cities like Casablanca, which faces pressure