FIFA World Cup 2026: Morocco Continues Their Quiet March Through The World Cup

20 Jun

Morocco just proved why they may be one of the most complete teams in this tournament. The game’s decisive moment came almost immediately after the match started. A mere 71 seconds into the match, Ismael Saibari scored what is currently the fastest goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That is how you start a match, and that is how you throw off your opponent. For the rest of the game, Scotland was hellbent on equalizing, and Morocco did not look particularly interested in that.

The Moroccan team, the Atlas Lions, remained confident throughout the game and completed more than 600 passes, a figure that underlined just how much of the contest they dictated.

Scotland did not just lie there and take it: their goalkeeper, Angus Gunn, produced several impressive saves to keep the scoreline respectable, and Scotland looked far more threatening after the break. Steve Clarke’s side pushed higher up the pitch, with Scott McTominay becoming increasingly influential as they searched for a way back into the match.

The biggest talking point arrived late in the game when McTominay went down inside the penalty area following a challenge from Neil El Aynaoui. Scotland appealed passionately for a penalty, but neither the referee nor VAR were convinced. The decision immediately became one of the most debated moments of the day’s World Cup action.

Morocco is beginning to look like one of the tournament’s most dangerous teams. After holding Brazil to a draw in their opening match and now dispatching Scotland, they sit in a commanding position in Group C. More importantly, they’re playing with the same blend of defensive discipline, technical quality, and confidence that carried them to a historic World Cup semifinal four years ago.

At a tournament where African teams have repeatedly punched above their weight, Morocco continues to lead the charge. And if their first two games are anything to go by, nobody should be surprised if they’re still around when this World Cup enters its final weeks.