Can Another Arab Team Repeat Morocco's 2022 World Cup Success?

posted on: Jun 10, 2026

By Aziz Hellal / Arab America Contributing Writer

When Morocco reached the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, it felt like the whole Arab world stopped to watch. Nobody expected them to beat teams like Spain and Portugal, but they did. Their run proved that Arab teams aren’t only there to participate; they can compete with some of the best teams in the world.

Now, four years later, things are getting even bigger. A record eight Arab countries made it into the 2026 World Cup. We have regular giants like Egypt and Algeria coming back, but we also have teams like Jordan making it for the very first time.

The big question this summer isn’t whether these teams belong on the world stage. Morocco already proved they do. The real question is: who could be the next Arab team to shock the world and make another historic run?

Morocco: Can the Atlas Lions Do It Again?

Morocco is heading into this tournament facing a completely different kind of pressure. Back in 2022, nobody saw them coming. They were the ultimate underdogs, tearing through giants like Spain, Belgium, and Portugal with nothing to lose. This time, they will not be treated as underdogs. After reaching the semifinals in Qatar, expectations are much higher.

The good news is that Morocco still has much of the core that made history in 2022. Players like Achraf Hakimi, Brahim Díaz, and Yassine Bounou know exactly what it takes to survive high-pressure knockout matches. That experience could make Morocco the Arab team best positioned to make another deep run in 2026.

Still, repeating the magic of 2022 is going to be a massive challenge. Nobody is going to underestimate Morocco this time, and the team has to prove that Qatar was not a one-time success. In Group C, Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Brazil will clearly be the toughest test, but this is still a group Morocco can absolutely qualify from. 

If they can keep their defensive discipline, punish teams on the counterattack, and get the results they need against Haiti and Scotland, the Atlas Lions should find themselves back in the knockout rounds.

The Best Candidates to Follow Morocco

If any Arab teams are going to mimic Morocco and survive the group stage, the North African trio of Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia are easily your safest bets. They’ve all been to the big dance before, they have elite talent, and their fans expect them to actually compete, not just show up for the tourism.

Egypt is once again putting all their hopes on Mohamed Salah’s shoulders. The Pharaohs aren’t favorites to win the whole thing, but they have more than enough grit to get out of Group G, even with a brutal matchup against Belgium. Interestingly enough, Egypt has never actually won a single World Cup match in their history—so just getting that first win would set off massive celebrations in Cairo.

Algeria might have one of the most talented squads in Africa, but their biggest enemy has always been consistency. They’re in Group J, which means they have a wild storyline ahead of them: they have to play tournament favorites Argentina, a tough Austria side, and fellow Arab nation Jordan.

Tunisia, on the other hand, is the ultimate headache for big teams. They love to play ugly, frustrate opponents, and break hearts on the counterattack. They’ll need every bit of that defensive stubbornness in Group F if they want to survive the Netherlands and Japan.

None of these teams is carrying the insane weight of expectations that Morocco has. But with the new 48-team format—where even the best third-place teams advance to a new Round of 32—the door is wide open for any of them to get hot at the right time and cause some absolute chaos.

The Teams Hoping to Surprise

Let’s be honest—some of the best World Cup memories don’t come from the teams lifting the trophy at the end. They come from the unexpected teams that refuse to follow the script. For Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and Jordan, nobody is demanding a semifinal trophy. The goal here is simple: go out there, make some noise, and show the world what they can do.

Saudi Arabia already knows what that feels like. Their famous victory over Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2022 is still fresh in everyone’s minds. They are landing in Group H with Spain and Uruguay, and if they can channel even half of that 2022 fearlessness, they could absolutely sneak into the knockouts.

Then you have Qatar. After the heartbreak of their home World Cup in 2022, they’ve completely rebuilt their confidence, winning back-to-back Asian Cups. With Akram Afif still at the center of the attack, Qatar now has a chance to prove it belongs on this stage as it faces Canada and Switzerland in Group B.

But the most emotional stories belong to Iraq and Jordan. Iraq is back after a 40-year absence, but their return comes with one of the hardest draws in the tournament. In Group I, they will face Kylian Mbappé’s France, Erling Haaland’s Norway, and a strong Senegal side, making their path to the knockout rounds extremely difficult. For Iraq, simply competing well in this group would already mean something. With Aymen Hussein leading the attack, they can still play with the kind of freedom that makes underdogs dangerous.

And finally, there’s Jordan. This is Al-Nashama’s very first World Cup appearance, making it one of the most historic moments in the country’s sporting history. Led by Mousa Al-Tamari, they are walking straight into a trial by fire in Group J against Argentina. Because nobody expects them to win, Jordan has the ultimate license to play with total freedom. With little pressure and plenty of belief, Jordan could become one of the tournament’s most intriguing underdogs.

Why 2026 Feels Different

At the end of the day, the magic of the 2026 World Cup isn’t just about what happens on the pitch. And in a tournament where crowd energy can completely flip a game, that fanbase might just be the ultimate secret weapon.

Morocco showed this clearly in 2022. During their historic run in Qatar, Arab supporters helped turn many of their matches into a home-like atmosphere. That energy became part of the story and gave the Atlas Lions a powerful emotional boost.

In 2026, that atmosphere could appear across North America. Moroccan fans are expected to fill the stands in New York/New Jersey for their match against Brazil. Egyptian supporters will back Mohamed Salah against Belgium in Seattle, while Tunisian fans will bring energy to Kansas City when they face the Netherlands. Algerian supporters will also be in Kansas City for a major test against Argentina.

Other Arab teams will have their own important moments. Saudi Arabia faces Spain in Atlanta, Qatar takes on Switzerland in the San Francisco Bay Area, Iraq meets Norway in Boston, and Jordan plays Argentina in Dallas in its first-ever World Cup appearance.

With games spread across North America—from New York and Dallas to Toronto and Mexico City—no Arab team is going to feel alone out there. The road to another historic breakthrough will be difficult, but with eight teams on the field and an entire diaspora backing them up, 2026 feels like a summer where absolutely anything is possible.

Want more articles like this? Sign up for our e-newsletter!

Check out our blog here!