The Moroccan national football team has etched its name in World Cup history by fielding an unprecedented lineup during its inaugural match in the 2026 tournament against Brazil. In a thrilling encounter held in the early hours at the New York/New Jersey stadium, the Atlas Lions, who finished fourth in the previous edition, managed to secure a 1-1 draw against the five-time World Cup champions.
Remarkably, Morocco became the first team in World Cup history to take to the pitch with a squad entirely composed of players born abroad, as highlighted by Argentine sports network TYCSports. This historic moment unfolded during the first substitution made by Moroccan coach Mohammed Wahbi, where Samir Merabti, a player from Strasbourg, replaced Azedine Ounahi of Girona in the 65th minute of the game. With this substitution, the only player born in Morocco, specifically in Casablanca, exited the game, and the lineup was completed exclusively with players of Moroccan descent who obtained citizenship through one of their parents, rather than by place of birth.
This unique scenario continued until the introduction of Sofiane Rahimi, a player from Al Ain in the UAE, just a minute before the end of regular time. Rahimi, who was also born in Casablanca, replaced the goal scorer for Morocco, Sibari. The Argentine network noted that the 24 minutes between Ounahi's exit and Rahimi's entry were enough to secure Morocco's place in the annals of football history.
Morocco's achievement precedes that of Curaçao, which is set to make its World Cup debut later today against Germany at the Houston stadium, scheduled for 20:00 Mecca and Doha time, as part of Group E. The Curaçao squad comprises 26 players, among whom only one, Tahith Chong, was born within the country.
As reported by aljazeera.net.
