Morocco

Morocco became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semifinal at Qatar 2022, beating Belgium, Spain, and Portugal along the way. The run captivated the entire continent.

Morocco conceded only one goal in the entire 2022 tournament before the semifinal — an own goal against Canada. Their defensive record was the best of any team outside the final two.

Many Morocco players hold dual nationality with European countries (France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium). This diaspora model has become a template for how smaller nations build competitive squads.