Moroccan newspapers and media outlets were divided in their assessment of the "Atlas Lions" national team's journey after exiting the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup with a 2-0 loss to France, as the majority of outlets praised the team's overall performance and its path in the tournament, while others directed sharp criticisms at the level shown by the players in the match.
The Moroccan national team ended its journey in the tournament at the quarter-final stage, repeating the scenario of the 2022 edition when it also exited against France, but after making a notable presence during the current edition, by drawing with Brazil and eliminating the Netherlands on penalties in the round of 16.
Nevertheless, the Moroccan national team failed to repeat its achievement of reaching the semi-finals of the previous edition.
"With heads held high"
The newspaper "Le Matin" considered that the Moroccan national team exited the tournament "with heads held high," affirming that its new participation has cemented its position among the world's top national teams.
The newspaper wrote that Morocco left the competition after a distinguished campaign characterized by solidity, discipline, and the ability to compete with the strongest national teams, adding that the achievement confirms that what was accomplished at the 2022 Qatar World Cup was not merely an exception, but a station within a continuous path of development for Moroccan football.
It pointed out that the "Atlas Lions" national team has today become one of the world's most prominent national teams, expressing optimism about continued development in the coming years.
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"Exited through the big door"
For its part, the website "Le360 Sport" saw that the Moroccan national team this time collided with a stronger and more effective French national team, which succeeded in exploiting its decisive moments to secure the qualification ticket.
The website affirmed that Coach Mohamed Wahbi's men left the tournament "through the big door," noting that Morocco, as the only Arab and African team to reach the quarter-finals, has nothing to be ashamed of after the loss to one of the top contenders for the title.
It added that this edition marks the end of a dream for an exceptional generation, but at the same time confirms the great leap achieved by Moroccan football since the Qatar World Cup, considering that the future still holds much, especially with Morocco hosting the 2030 World Cup in partnership with Spain and Portugal.
Praise for the performance despite the disparity in capabilities
For its part, the Moroccan newspaper "Al Akhbar" described the national team's performance against France as honorable and competitive, despite acknowledging the superiority of the French national team.
The newspaper affirmed that reaching the quarter-finals remains a new historic achievement for Moroccan football, reflecting the continued development of the national team on the global stage.
Scathing criticisms
In contrast, the newspaper "Al Massae" adopted a sharper tone, considering that the Moroccan national team appeared completely far from the level it had shown in previous matches.
The newspaper directed direct criticisms at national team captain Achraf Hakimi, affirming that he did not provide the usual addition on the right flank, while individual errors contributed to aborting attempts to build attacks.
It added that the team did not exploit periods of superiority during the match, considering that competing with major teams requires capitalizing on opportunities and not settling for merely matching the opponent without offensive effectiveness.
The newspaper concluded its assessment by saying that the Moroccan national team lacked boldness, describing its performance against France as resembling that of a "ghost team," considering that the exit raised many question marks about this sudden decline.
