São Paulo – The Moroccan national team beat Spain 3-0 in a penalty shootout on Tuesday (6) in the 16th round of the competition. The Atlas Lions made history as the first Arab team to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup. Spain was eliminated.
Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Morocco reached the round of 16 of previous World Cups, and Morocco’s only other trip past the group stage was in 1986, 36 years ago.
Morocco is also only the fourth African team to reach a World Cup’s quarterfinals, following Cameroon, Senegal and Gana. None of them moved on to the semifinals. The last time an African team played the quarterfinals was in 2010, when Gana lost to Uruguay on penalties in South Africa.
If it moves to the next phase, Morocco will be the first Arab and African team in a World Cup’ semifinals. In its best campaign in history, the team led by Moroccan coach Walid Regragui will play against the winner of tonight’s clash between Portugal and Switzerland on 10 December.
Read more: Morocco: Sole Arab team advancing to World Cup round of 16
Translated by Guilherme Miranda
