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.
Morocco: Fouzi Lekjaa discusses Lamine Yamal’s decision to represent Spain
In the documentary Inside: The Rise of Moroccan Football, produced by Onze Mondial, the president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Fouzi Lekjaa, discussed Lamine Yamal’s decision to represent Spain rather than Morocco. The Moroccan official insists that the Federation has always respected this decision.
When asked about the young FC Barcelona prodigy, Lekjaa made a remark that has already sparked a reaction: “I don’t know of any Spaniard called Jamal, and I don’t know of any player in the history of the Spanish national team who has gone by that name.”
The FRMF president nevertheless emphasised that Morocco has never sought to challenge the player’s decision. “We have respected Lamine’s choice and have never opposed it. We have never changed the way we deal with him or his family, who continue to spend their holidays in the northern provinces of Morocco, their homeland, where they will always be welcome,” he said.
Fouzi Lekjaa also emphasised that the Kingdom approaches such matters with equanimity. In his view, seeing players of Moroccan origin competing at the highest level, including for other national teams, is a testament to the quality of Moroccan football training and Morocco’s contribution to international football.
The official emphasised that the FRMF does not judge the choices of dual-nationality players through the prism of frustration or pride. “We are delighted that the Moroccan project has become a benchmark, but representing a national team remains, above all, a personal choice,” he explained.
Broadcast on the Onze Mondial YouTube channel, the documentary looks back at the strategy for developing Moroccan football, from the training of young talent to the rise of the Atlas Lions on the international stage. In particular, it features several key figures in national football, including Achraf Hakimi, Yassine Bounou, Fathi Jamal and Mohamed Ouahbi.
2026 World Cup: Morocco, Africa’s last hope
Morocco will be much more than just a quarter-finalist when they face France on Thursday. Following Egypt’s elimination at the hands of Argentina, the Atlas Lions are now the sole representative of Africa and the Arab world still in contention in this 2026 World Cup. This status adds even greater significance to their clash with Les Bleus.
Egypt’s defeat by Argentina has left Morocco as the sole African and Arab nation to have qualified for the quarter-finals. Mohamed Ouahbi’s men will therefore bear the responsibility of carrying the hopes of an entire continent as they face one of the tournament’s hot favourites.
This latest performance confirms the rise of Moroccan football on the international stage. Following their historic run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the Atlas Lions reached the semi-finals, the Kingdom is demonstrating that this success was by no means a one-off. Morocco has now established itself amongst the leading nations in world football.
To reach this stage of the competition, the Atlas Lions knocked out the Netherlands before thrashing Canada 3–0, displaying the collective solidity and clinical finishing that are now their strengths. These performances mean they can approach the quarter-final against France with ambition, but also with respect for their opponents.
A quarter-final with the air of a rematch
This fixture will inevitably bring to mind the 2022 World Cup semi-final won by France. This time, however, the context is different. Morocco are no longer approaching this match as underdogs, but as an established side capable of competing with the world’s best teams.
Beyond the sporting stakes, this match carries symbolic significance. The Atlas Lions now represent the hopes of millions of Moroccan supporters, as well as those of many football fans across Africa and the Arab world, who dream of seeing a nation from the continent continue its World Cup journey.
Facing Les Bleus, Mohamed Ouahbi’s men will have the opportunity to write a new chapter in the history of Moroccan football. Qualifying for the semi-finals would further cement Morocco’s place amongst the leading lights of international football and enhance the Kingdom’s standing on the world stage.
2026 World Cup: Saïbari continues his preparations ahead of Morocco v France
The Atlas Lions are continuing their preparations in Boston ahead of their 2026 World Cup quarter-final against France, scheduled for Thursday. During the penultimate training session, Ismaël Saïbari once again followed a personalised programme, under the supervision of the medical and coaching staff.
The session, which was open to the media for the first fifteen minutes, took place with the entire squad, with the exception of the Moroccan midfielder. Chadi Riad was also absent at the start of training before joining his team-mates once the journalists had left.
According to Hesport, Saïbari and Chadi Riad are continuing with specific training to speed up their recovery. Whether they feature against France will depend on how their fitness progresses over the next few hours.
With two days to go before this highly anticipated clash, Mohamed Ouahbi’s coaching staff are keeping a close eye on the situation regarding the two Moroccan internationals, hoping to be able to count on them for this decisive fixture.
The quarter-final between Morocco and France will take place on Thursday at 9.00 pm (Moroccan time), with a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup at stake.
2026 World Cup: Mohamed Ouahbi wants to shape the future of Moroccan football
With two days to go before the 2026 World Cup quarter-final against France, Mohamed Ouahbi has reaffirmed his vision for the Atlas Lions: to continue the progress of Moroccan football without becoming trapped by past achievements.
In an interview with Onze Mondial, the manager emphasised that he does not feel any pressure stemming from Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 World Cup.
“I don’t feel pressure, but I do feel a sense of responsibility. I’m looking to the future and at ways to improve. Today, we have a strong Football Association and a clear organisational structure,” explained the 49-year-old manager.
For Ouahbi, Morocco’s successes are the result of groundwork carried out by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, particularly in terms of training and developing young talent.
The manager also believes that players trained in Morocco are now every bit as good as those from European academies.
“We are naturally gifted in technical and tactical terms. We still need to improve in certain areas, particularly our finishing in front of goal,” he emphasises.
Finally, Mohamed Ouahbi calls for the Atlas Lions’ style of play to continue evolving.
“Football is evolving very quickly. We mustn’t get stuck in a single tactical philosophy. The key is to put individual qualities at the service of the team,” he concludes.
These statements come as Morocco continues its preparations for its quarter-final against France on Thursday in Boston, aiming to continue its historic run at the 2026 World Cup.
Transfer news: José Mourinho is counting on Moroccan Brahim Diaz at Real Madrid
Brahim Diaz’s future at Real Madrid appears to be taking shape. As José Mourinho prepares to return to the Real Madrid dugout, the Portuguese manager has reportedly decided to place his trust in the Moroccan international for next season.
According to Defensa Central, Brahim Diaz is among the players the ‘Special One’ wishes to keep. The Portuguese manager is said to particularly value the Atlas Lion’s versatility, technical ability and capacity to play in several attacking positions.
According to the Spanish media outlet, José Mourinho believes he can get the best out of the 26-year-old and plans to give him a key role in his sporting project at Real Madrid.
This confidence comes at a time when Brahim Diaz is shining with the Atlas Lions at the 2026 World Cup. The Moroccan playmaker has already distinguished himself with four assists, contributing to Morocco’s historic run to the quarter-finals, where Mohamed Ouahbi’s side will face France.
Conversely, several players could leave Real Madrid during the upcoming transfer window. According to the same source, Eduardo Camavinga and Raúl Asencio are among those likely to be on their way out.
If this trend continues, Brahim Diaz could start the coming season in a stronger position at Real Madrid, buoyed by his performances for Morocco and the confidence José Mourinho is said to have in him.
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2026 World Cup: Morocco v France, a reunion in the quarter-finals
The eagerly awaited clash is set to take place. Following their brilliant 3–0 victory over Canada, Morocco will face France again in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus secured their place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Paraguay, thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappé.
The Atlas Lions now know their next challenge. On **9 July in Boston**, they will attempt to secure a place in the semi-finals against France, in a fixture that inevitably brings to mind the semi-final of the 2022 World Cup.
France scrape through thanks to Mbappé
Facing a combative Paraguay side, Didier Deschamps’ men struggled for a long time to break the deadlock. Solid in defence, the South Americans held out for over an hour before conceding a penalty converted by Kylian Mbappé in the 70th minute.
That goal was enough to seal victory for Les Bleus, who join Morocco in the quarter-finals.
Morocco go into the match full of confidence
Unlike France, Morocco were in complete control of their round of 16 tie against Canada. After an evenly matched first half, the Atlas Lions made the difference after the break thanks to a brace from Azzedine Ounahi, before Soufiane Rahimi sealed the victory once and for all in added time.
This qualification confirms the excellent form of Mohamed Ouahbi’s side, who have reached the World Cup quarter-finals for the second time in a row – a first in the history of African football.
A quarter-final with great symbolic significance
This clash between Morocco and France extends far beyond the sporting arena. It brings back memories of the 2022 World Cup semi-final, won by Les Bleus, and is generating immense interest on both sides of the Mediterranean.
But this time, the Atlas Lions are approaching this fixture in a completely different light. Now firmly established amongst the world’s footballing greats, the Moroccans will have the opportunity to prove their worth against one of the tournament’s favourites and to pursue their dream of reaching their first consecutive semi-final.
