Morocco: the heatwave is receding after nine days of hot weather, but up to 46 °C remains expected
After nine days marked by an exceptional heat wave, Morocco is about to experience a slight respite. According to the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM), temperatures should gradually decrease in several regions of the Kingdom thanks to the arrival of cooler Atlantic air currents, even if the heat will remain very marked in the interior of the country.
According to DGM forecasts, the heatwave will gradually recede in northern and central Morocco over the next few days. This trend should allow a gradual drop in temperatures, ending an episode during which peaks exceeded the seasonal normals by 5-13 °C in many regions.
However, this refreshment will not concern the entire territory. The regions of the South-East, the Oriental, the valley of the Moulouya and the southern provinces will continue to record particularly high temperatures. The maxima will still be able to reach between 41°C and 46°C in certain areas, while the coasts and reliefs of the Atlas will benefit from more lenient conditions, with temperatures between 25°C and 30°C.
Meteorologists also predict a return of some atmospheric instability at the beginning of next week, with a risk of localized thunderstorms on the reliefs of the Atlas, accompanied by a slight rise in temperatures in several regions.
This heat episode was caused by the rise of the Saharan thermal depression and the arrival of the chergui, a warm and dry wind coming from the Sahara. More than fourteen Moroccan cities exceeded 40 °C, while Smara recorded the highest temperature in the country with a peak of 47 °C.
Despite this particularly intense heat wave, the General Directorate of Meteorology points out that no absolute temperature record for the month of July has been broken so far. The authorities nevertheless invite the inhabitants of the most exposed regions to remain vigilant in the face of the hot weather that will still persist in several provinces of the Kingdom.
Morocco: first Arab and African country honored at the SummerStage in New York
Morocco will enter the history of the 40th edition of the famous SummerStage festival by becoming the first Arab and African country to be honored during an exceptional evening organized on July 15 in Central Park, New York.
Called « Morocco: From Dakhla to Casablanca« , this free event is organized in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) and Maroc Festivals. It aims to promote the richness of Moroccan musical creation to the American public.
The program will highlight the diversity of the Kingdom’s sounds with renowned artists such as Hoba Hoba Spirit, Hamid El Kasri, Dakhla Casa Xpress, Mr ID and NDRK. Festival-goers will discover a musical journey combining gnawa music, hassanis rhythms, rock, electro and Saharan influences.
Beyond concerts, this initiative is part of the strategy of Maroc Festivals, launched in 2012 to promote Moroccan artists on the major international stages. Professional meetings with actors of the American music industry are also planned in order to create new opportunities for collaboration.
By becoming the first Arab and African country to be celebrated at SummerStage, Morocco confirms the growing influence of its cultural scene internationally. This evening aims to strengthen cultural exchanges between the Kingdom and the United States while highlighting a new generation of Moroccan artists who contribute to make known the richness and diversity of the national musical heritage around the world.
Morocco: the Atlas Lions return home after a historic journey at the 2026 World Cup
The national team of Morocco returned to the Kingdom on Sunday, after its remarkable journey during the 2026 World Cup, organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The Atlas Lions landed at Rabat-Salé airport from Boston, where their adventure ended in the quarterfinals.
Morocco left the competition after a defeat against France (2-0), but Mohamed Ouahbi’s men leave with a new historic journey that confirms the growing place of the Kingdom among the best nations in world football.
The Atlas Lions had perfectly negotiated the group stage by finishing second with seven points, tied with Brazil, leader thanks to a better goal difference. The Moroccans shared points with the Seleção (1-1) before winning against Scotland (1-0) and Haiti (4-2).
In the knockout phase, Morocco continued their momentum by eliminating the Netherlands on penalties and then dominating Canada (3-0) to secure another qualification in the quarter-finals.
As the only African and Arab nation among the top eight teams in this first 48-time World Cup, Morocco confirms that its achievement in 2022 was no accident. This new performance illustrates the constant progress of Moroccan football and strengthens the status of the Atlas Lions on the international stage.
Despite the elimination against Les Bleus, the fans mainly retain a track record rich in emotions and performances, which nurtures great ambitions for the upcoming international events. Mohamed Ouahbi’s men leave the 2026 World Cup with the honor and conviction that Morocco is now one of the nations that matter in world football.
Morocco: The Atlas Lions return home after another remarkable run at the 2026 World Cup
Morocco is preparing to celebrate the return of its national football team following an impressive campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation has announced that the Atlas Lions are expected to arrive at Rabat–Salé Airport in the early hours of Sunday, July 12, after departing from Boston, USA.
Led by head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, the Moroccan side saw its remarkable journey come to an end in the quarter-finals with a 2–0 loss to France. Nevertheless, the team returns home having once again etched its name into football history as the only African and Arab nation to reach the last eight of the tournament.
The achievement builds on Morocco’s groundbreaking semi-final appearance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, further establishing the Kingdom as one of Africa’s football powerhouses and a respected force on the world stage.
Supporters from across the country are expected to give the players a rousing welcome, celebrating a squad whose performances continue to inspire pride and highlight the enduring rise of Moroccan football.
Morocco: 2026 World Cup journey ends in the quarter-finals
Morocco’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to an end after a 2-0 defeat to France in the quarter-finals, bringing another memorable campaign for the Atlas Lions to a close.
After a balanced first half, Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 60th minute before Ousmane Dembélé added a second six minutes later to send France into the semi-finals.
Although eliminated, Morocco once again demonstrated why it remains one of Africa’s football powerhouses. The Atlas Lions reached the last eight after an impressive tournament, confirming the progress they have made since their historic semi-final appearance at the 2022 World Cup.
Throughout the competition, Morocco displayed tactical discipline, resilience, and attacking quality against some of the world’s strongest teams, earning admiration from fans across Africa and beyond.
While their quest for a first World Cup semi-final since 2022 falls short this time, the Atlas Lions leave the tournament with pride, having once again represented African football with distinction on the global stage. Their quarter-final finish further cements Morocco’s place among the world’s elite national teams and reinforces the country’s growing influence in international football.
France vs. Morocco: Time and TV channel for the 2026 World Cup clash
France and Morocco are set for another blockbuster encounter as they meet in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals on Thursday, July 9, rekindling one of the tournament’s most memorable recent rivalries. The two sides face each other four years after their historic 2022 World Cup semi-final in Qatar, where France secured a 2-0 victory to end Morocco’s remarkable run.
This time, the Atlas Lions will be aiming for revenge and another historic achievement as they continue their impressive campaign. France, meanwhile, is chasing a place in the semi-finals and remains on course to win a third FIFA World Cup title.
France vs Morocco: Match Details
- Date: Thursday, July 9, 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough (Boston, USA)
Where to Watch
The quarter-final will be broadcast live across several African broadcasters, including NCI, RTI Group channels, New World TV, and beIN SPORTS.
In Benin, fans will also be able to watch the match live on SRTB’s Bénin TV.
With a place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake, another chapter is set to be written in one of international football’s most compelling modern rivalries.
Morocco denies remarks attributed to Mohamed Berrada and reaffirms its commitment to Africa
As Morocco continues its impressive journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Moroccan government has officially dismissed false statements circulating on social media that were wrongly attributed to Mohamed Saad Berrada, the Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports.
The controversy emerged at a time when the Atlas Lions are once again capturing global attention with another outstanding World Cup campaign. Several social media posts and online platforms claimed that the minister had allegedly said that « Morocco does not represent Africa, » that « the national football team represents only Morocco, not Africa, » and that « Morocco does not need Africa’s support. »
The Ministry has categorically denied these claims, describing them as completely fabricated and without any factual basis.
According to the official statement, Minister Berrada has never made such remarks and has not given any media interview on the subject. The Ministry stressed that the statements do not reflect either the minister’s views or the official position of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Beyond denying the misinformation, the government reaffirmed Morocco’s deep African identity. The statement emphasized that the Kingdom remains proud of its African roots and highlighted the historic, cultural and human ties that connect Morocco with the rest of the African continent.
The clarification comes as Morocco enjoys another memorable World Cup campaign, strengthening its reputation as one of international football’s emerging powers after its historic semifinal appearance in Qatar in 2022. The Atlas Lions’ performances have once again inspired millions of supporters across Africa and beyond.
Authorities also urged journalists, media outlets and social media users to verify information before publishing it, warning that legal action could be taken against those responsible for spreading false statements or attributing fabricated quotes to public officials.
2026 World Cup: the quarter-final fixtures, with the Morocco v France clash headlining the line-up
The quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup promise to be spectacular, with four top-class fixtures. The most eagerly anticipated match will see Morocco take on France on Thursday in Boston, in a clash that brings back memories of the 2022 World Cup semi-final.
Having comfortably beaten Canada 3–0, the Atlas Lions continue their remarkable run and will be looking to take their campaign to the next level against Les Bleus. Led by Mohamed Ouahbi, the Moroccans are aiming to reach the semi-finals once again and cement their status among the world’s best teams.
France, for their part, qualified following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Paraguay. Didier Deschamps’ men will need to be wary of a Moroccan side brimming with confidence, spearheaded by players such as Brahim Diaz, Azzedine Ounahi, Achraf Hakimi and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The full quarter-final schedule
- Thursday 9 July
9.00 pm: Morocco v France (Boston)
- Friday 10 July
8.00 pm: Spain v Belgium (Los Angeles)
- Saturday 11 July
10.00 pm: Norway v England (Miami)
2.00 am: Argentina v Switzerland (Kansas City)
Morocco, Africa’s sole representative
These quarter-finals once again highlight the strong presence of European teams. Six of the eight teams still in the running are from Europe: France, Spain, Belgium, Norway, England and Switzerland.
Morocco stands out as the exception, representing African football. Having made history in 2022 by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup, the Atlas Lions have confirmed their consistency at the highest level by reaching the quarter-finals once again.
Argentina is the only South American side still in the competition. As reigning world champions, the Albiceleste will be aiming to continue their quest for another World Cup title, whilst Morocco dreams of continuing to write one of the finest chapters in the history of African football.
Morocco: Jazzablanca 2026 brings Casablanca to life with Zeyne and Rilès
The 19th edition of Jazzablanca continues to enliven Casablanca with an eclectic line-up. On Tuesday evening, the Casa Anfa stage welcomed two highly anticipated artists, Zeyne and Rilès, who delivered standout performances to a large audience. Meanwhile, Scène 21 showcased emerging talent, including Moroccan rapper Small X.
The Jordanian-Palestinian singer Zeyne opened the evening with a concert blending soul, R&B and contemporary Arabic sounds. Her voice and musical style quickly won over festival-goers, who sang along to several of her songs. At the end of her set, the artist expressed her affection for Morocco, praising the warm welcome she received from the Casablanca audience.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but the energy was incredible,” she said, emphasising that her aim is to bring audiences together through music inspired by universal experiences.
Later in the evening, Rilès ramped up the intensity with a high-energy show combining music, dance and stage performances. The French artist alternated her most popular tracks with more intimate moments, delivering a concert that was highly praised by Jazzablanca festival-goers.
On Stage 21, Moroccan rapper Small X, accompanied by the Parisian collective AMG and producer Saib, presented an original piece blending rap, jazz and electronic sounds. The performance exemplified the festival’s artistic openness.
“Music has no language. There are frequencies that connect automatically, whatever the musical style,” said Small X, delighted to present this collaboration to the Moroccan audience.
The evening concluded with the Barcelona Gipsy Balkan Orchestra, whose Balkan rhythms and infectious energy transformed Stage 21 into a veritable party venue.
With this latest event, Jazzablanca 2026 has once again confirmed its place amongst Morocco’s major cultural events, bringing together artists from diverse backgrounds in Casablanca whilst providing excellent exposure for Moroccan talent.
