At the first World Cup held by an Arab nation, players and supporters could be seen flying a variety of flags, including Palestine's triangle-adorned tricolor, Qatar's maroon and white Al-Adaam, and Morocco's green star-studded crimson banner.
This dramatic image demonstrated how Morocco's unexpected run as the first African team to reach the World Cup semifinals has rippled beyond of the country's boundaries, and echoed across the Arab world and beyond, for a game ingrained in national identities and rich with symbolism.
In what will be the most significant soccer match in the history of the nation, Morocco will now meet France, the nation that controlled Morocco for for five decades and exerted influence for another 50. The game will be closely observed not only in Morocco but everywhere else in the world as well, especially in Europe, where people of Moroccan descent will use the occasion to proudly honor their heritage, as well as by anyone who enjoys rooting for the underdog.
The Moroccan diaspora's "milkshake"
Morocco stood out for the makeup of its roster even before the club played its first game. Achraf Hakimi, the outstanding player for Morocco and a player in the 2022 World Cup, was born to Moroccan parents in a country outside of Europe.