Football in Morocco

Football in Morocco
Cameroon's Benoît Assou-Ekotto jostles for possession with Morocco's Mustapha Allaoui during an international friendly match in 2009.
CountryMorocco
Governing bodyRoyal Moroccan Football Federation
National teamsMen's national football team, Women's national football team
National competitions
Club competitions
International competitions

Introduced during French colonial rule football quickly became ingrained in Moroccan culture and the most popular sport in Morocco. Approximately 55% of the Moroccans are considered football fans.[1] Gaining independence in 1956 Moroccan football fell under the control of The governing body of Moroccan football the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.[2] Football in Morocco has witnessed significant development in recent years, with increased international fame. Morocco hosted the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup, in which Moroccan team Raja reached the final, finishing runners-up to German Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.[3] The most popular clubs in the country are Wydad Casablanca, Raja Casablanca and AS FAR.

The Morocco national football team have won the 1976 African Cup of Nations, three African Nations Championships, and the FIFA Arab Cup once. They have participated in the FIFA World Cup six times.[4][5][6] Their best result came in the 2022 World Cup, when they became the first African and Arab national team to reach the semi-finals.[7]

History

Football was introduced and developed in Morocco under French colonial rule, becoming a large part of Moroccan identity and culture.[8] Since it's introduction football has been used as a voice for people and played an important role in national movements. Teams such as Wydad AC and Raja Club Athletic became important clubs for Moroccan liberation movements as they provided legal places for Moroccans to gather and express themselves and their dissastifaction with French rule.[9] Moroccan clubs continue to be a voice for the public with many ultras groups using chants as a tool to protest against the government. Since its independence Moroccan football has since grown to include a league with a tier system and a club tournament known as the Throne Cup.

National competitions

Main article: Botola Pro
Main article: List of football stadiums in Morocco
Main article: Botola Pro D2
Main article: Amateur National Championship (Moroccan football)

Botola

Nationally, professional football is divided into 2 leagues: the top-tier GNF 1 and the second-tier GNF 2. Founded in 1915 the Botola Pro 1 is the top-tier division in Morocco and was organized by the Moroccan Football League Association until 1956. In 1956 Morocco gained independence and the league fell under jurisdiction of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF). The competition consists of 16 teams with the bottom two teams being relegated to the Botola Pro 2 and the top two teams qualifying for the CAF Champions League. The competition runs from September to May with each team playing a total of 30 matches. The Botola Pro 2 follows the same format with 16 teams with the top two teams being promoted and the bottom two teams being relegated to the third division.[10]

In the top division 20 of 31 clubs have managed to win the league: Wydad AC (22), USM Casablanca (15), AS FAR (13), Raja CA (13), Maghreb Fes (4), KAC Kenitra (4), Racing de Casablanca (3), Kawkab Marrakech (2), Hassania Agadir (2), Moghreb Tétouan (2), FUS Rabat (1), Olympique Khouribga (1), Renaissance de Settat (1), IR Tanger (1), Olympique de Casablanca (1), Mouloudia Oujda (1), CODM de Meknès (1), Chabab Mohammédia (1), Raja de Beni Mellal (1), and Étoile de Casablanca (1), RSB Berkane (1)

Throne Cup

Main article: Moroccan Throne Cup

The Moroccan Throne Cup was founded in 1957 one year after Moroccos independence and replaced the old Moroccan cup that was played under French colonialism. The tournament features teams from both the first and second division as well as clubs from the first amateur division. The tournament is formated in a knock out format starting with the round of 32 with the winners advancing to the next round.[11]

19 clubs have won the cup: AS FAR (12), Wydad Casablanca (9), Raja Casablanca (8), FUS de Rabat (6), Kawkab Marrakesh (6), MAS Fès (4), Mouloudia Oujda (4), Renaissance Berkane (3), Olympique Casablanca (3), Olympique Khouribga (2), Chabab Mohammédia (2), Difaa El Jadida (1), KAC Kenitra (1), Renaissance de Settat (1), CODM Meknès (1), Racing Casablanca (1), TAS Casablanca (1), Olympic Club Safi (1) and Majd Casablanca (1).

International competitions

Morocco men's national football team

Main article: Morocco national football team

The Morocco national football team, nicknamed Lions de l'Atlas (Atlas Lions), is the national team of Morocco and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation. They were the first African team to qualify directly for the World Cup finals, doing so in 1970. They were also the first African team to win a group at the World Cup, finishing ahead of Portugal, Poland, and England in 1986. Morocco fell to eventual runner-up West Germany 1-0 in the second round.[12] In 2022 Morocco finished top of Group F, ahead of Croatia, Belgium and Canada. In the Round of 16, they beat Spain in a penalty shootout, becoming the first Arab country to reach the quarter-finals. The Atlas Lions then defeated Portugal by one goal, before bowing out to France in a close-fought semi-final .[13]

Morocco won the African Nations Cup once, in 1976.[14] They also won the African Nations Championship in 2018, 2020 and 2024 making them the nation with the most amount of wins.[15][16][17] Morocco’s U-20 national team accomplished a historic victory in 2025 by winning the U-20 World Cup in Chile, winning against Argentina 2-0 in the final.[18] Moroccan club have also hosted and competed in multiple FIFA Club World Cups, including the tournaments held in 2013, 2014, and 2022.[19] Morocco is also hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).[20] Morocco will become the second African nation to host the FIFA World Cup when it will host the 24th FIFA World Cup in June and July 2030 along with Portugal and Spain.

Morocco women's national football team

Main article: Morocco women's national football team

The Morocco women's national football team represents Morocco in international women's football and is controlled by the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.[21] The team played its first international match in 1998, as part of the 3rd African Women's Championship. In the 14th edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, the Morocco women's team managed to secure a silver medal after a 2-1 loss against South Africa in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations.[22] They also qualified for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup and will be the first Arab country ever to participate in the Women's World Cup.[23][24] In their first participation in the FIFA Women's World Cup, They placed 2nd after losing 6-0 to Germany,[25] winning 1-0 against South Korea and winning 1-0 against Colombia.[26][27] This qualified them to the Knock-out stages.[28]In preparation for the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations the team spent a month at the Mohamed VI Football Complex to train, they are led by Ghizlane Chebbak.[29]

While women's football has been present in Morocco, it wasn't until recent years it has gained support among citizens. Some of this new support originated in 2016 when a plan was made in order to support women's football by increasing salaries and accessibility to training for coaching. Morocco's Football Federation also made a new women's professional league.[30]

Clubs

Moroccan clubs are the second most decorated in African competitions with 25 titles: 1 African Cup Winners' Cup, 2 CAF Cup, 8 CAF Confederation Cup, 7 CAF Champions League, 5 CAF Super Cup and 2 Afro-Asian Club Championship.

Largest Moroccan football stadiums

Image Stadium Capacity Opened City Club
Stade Mohamed V 45,000[31] 1955 Casablanca Moroccan team
Raja Casablanca
Wydad Casablanca
Ibn Batouta Stadium 65,000[32] 2011 Tanger IR Tanger
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium 53,000[33] 1983 Rabat Moroccan team
FAR Rabat
Adrar Stadium 45,480 2013 Agadir Hassania Agadir
Marrakesh Stadium 45,240 2011 Marrakech KAC Marrakech
Fez Stadium 45,000 2007 Fes Maghreb de Fès
Wydad de Fès

Support

Twitter research from 2015 found that the most popular English Premier League club in Morocco was by far Arsenal, with 55% of Moroccan Premier League fans following the club, followed by Chelsea (14%) and Manchester City (10%).[34]

Attendances

The average attendance per top-flight football league season and the club with the highest average attendance:

Season League average Best club Best club average
2024-25 7,093 Wydad 23,880
2019-20 9,268 Wydad 25,305
2018-19 9,761 IR Tanger 17,877
2017-18 9,292 IR Tanger 23,750
2015-16 9,709 IR Tanger 23,572
2012-13 10,103 Raja 33,167

Sources: League pages on Wikipedia

See also

References

  1. ^ https://countrycassette.com/rankings-sports-football-fans-by-country/
  2. ^ Alami, Aida (9 May 2012). "Morocco Struggles to Rein in Soccer Hooligans". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  3. ^ Cummings, Michael. "Raja Casablanca vs. Bayern Munich: Club World Cup Final Score, Grades, Reaction". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  4. ^ "African Nations Championship". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  5. ^ "African Nations Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Arab Cup". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  7. ^ "More than half of Morocco's squad were born overseas. Will their success see more diaspora players follow?". ABC News. 12 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Football In Morocco: A Nation United By The Beautiful Game | Indigo Expedition". Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  9. ^ العرقوبي, أنيس (27 November 2019). "المغرب: أندية رياضية.. مهد الحركة الوطنية ضد الاستعمار" [Morocco: Sports Clubs, the Cradle of the National Movement Against Colonialism]. Noonpost.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Botola Pro Archives". Sahel Sports News. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Throne Cup - Presentation - Niya Maghribia". Niya Maghribia. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  12. ^ "World Cup Soccer Roundup : Morocco Gains the Second Round in a Stunner - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. 12 June 1986. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  13. ^ "More than half of Morocco's squad were born overseas. Will their success see more diaspora players follow?". ABC News. 12 December 2022 – via www.abc.net.au.
  14. ^ "BBC SPORT | Football | African Cup of Nations | Morocco rise again". BBC News. 6 February 2004. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  15. ^ Blitz, Sam (10 December 2022). "World Cup 2022: Morocco 1-0 Portugal: Youssef En-Nesyri scores winner as Cristiano Ronaldo exits Qatar tournament". CNBC. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  16. ^ Ronald, Issy (10 December 2022). "Morocco becomes first ever African team to reach World Cup semifinals with historic victory over Portugal". CNN. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  17. ^ "'Heart-warming': Morocco becomes first African team in WC semi-finals". euronews. 10 December 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  18. ^ "Morocco shocks Argentina to win U20 World Cup". ESPN.com. 20 October 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  19. ^ "Topend Sports | Sports Science, Fitness Testing & Event Analysis". Topend Sports. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  20. ^ "AFCON 2025 guide: When it starts, who's playing and the records on the line". AFCON 2025 guide: When it starts, who’s playing and the records on the line. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  21. ^ "Morocco's Women's World Cup team reaps investment rewards – DW – 07/25/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Can Morocco 'do something big' at Women's World Cup?". BBC Sport.
  23. ^ "South Africa beat Morocco to win first Wafcon title". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  24. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (23 July 2022). "South Africa beat Morocco to win first WAFCON title". Vanguard News. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  25. ^ Glendenning, Barry (24 July 2023). "Germany 6-0 Morocco: Women's World Cup 2023 – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  26. ^ Staff writer (30 July 2023). "Morocco clinch first Women's World Cup win to put South Korea on brink of exit". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Morocco stun S Korea to earn first World Cup win". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Morocco make history, reach Women's World Cup knockout stage". CAF. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  29. ^ Howorth, Alasdair (4 July 2025). "WAFCON 2024: A tournament in Morocco nearly forgotten could be the best one yet". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  30. ^ "The transformation of women's football in Morocco – Xarxa Europea de Dones Periodistes". Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  31. ^ "Stade Mohamed V – StadiumDB.com". stadiumdb.com.
  32. ^ The Stadium currently has 65,000 after the renovation for hosting the FIFA Club World Cup 2022, construction has been finished as of 23 January.
  33. ^ "Complexe Sportif Moulay Abdallah - Rabat - the Stadium Guide".
  34. ^ "Which is Africa's favourite Premier League team?". BBC News. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soccer_in_Morocco