Morocco take on Portugal in the 2022 World Cup quarterfinals as Walid Regragui masterminded an incredible penalty shootout win over Spain in the Round of 16.
The Atlas Lions has impressed in Qatar, with their meeting against Portugal just fourth time an African nation has reached the last eight, with no team from the continent ever reaching the semifinals.
Regragui has created a solid platform for his squad at the World Cup with the best defensive record of teams left in the competition, with Nayef Aguerd's own goal the only effort conceded in four matches.
Morocco's squad has been hailed for its unity and Regragui has looked to call on players based across Europe, and to those born outside of Morocco.
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Which Morocco players were born in other countries?
Regragui's 26-man squad includes just 12 players born in Morocco, the lowest ratio in the competition, with players originating from Spain, Canada, France, the Netherlands and Belgium, all named in his final panel.
Each player has their own story behind opting to represent Morocco, over a different option, with some moving to Morocco as children, and others opting to represent their parents' birth nation.
Ma nation ❤️🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/mwWFjC655p
— Achraf Hakimi (@AchrafHakimi) December 7, 2022
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou moved to Casablanca as a 3-year-old, after being born to Moroccan parents in Canada, with Madrid-born key defender Achraf Hakimi coming through the ranks at Real Madrid, and French born-captain Roman Saiss qualifying via his Moroccan father.
| Player | Birth Year | Birth Location | Morocco Caps | Caps for other nations |
| Yassine Bounou | 1991 | Montreal, Canada | 48 | — |
| Munir Mohamedi | 1989 | Cueta, Spain | 44 | — |
| Achraf Hakimi | 1998 | Madrid, Spain | 58 | — |
| Noussair Mazraoui | 1997 | Leiderdorp, Netherlands | 19 | — |
| Roman Saiss | 1990 | Bourg-de-Peag, France | 70 | |
| Sofyan Amrabat | 1996 | Huizen, Netherlands | 43 | Netherlands U15 - 4 caps |
| Illias Chair | 1997 | Antwerp, Belgium | 10 | — |
| Selim Amallah | 1996 | Hautrage, Belgium | 20 | |
| Bilal El Khannous | 2004 | Strombeek-Bever, Belgium | 0 | Belgium U15/16/18 - 13 caps |
| Hakim Ziyech | 1993 | Dronteen, Netherlands | 47 | Netherlands U20/21 - 6 caps |
| Anass Zaroury | 2000 | Mechelen, Belgium | 1 | Belgium U17/18/21 - 14 caps |
| Zakaria Aboukhal | 2000 | Rotterdam, Netherlands | 14 | Netherlands U17/18/19/20 - 31 caps |
| Sofiane Boufal | 1993 | Paris, France | 36 | — |
| Walid Cheddira | 1998 | Loreto, Italy | 3 | — |
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Why Hakmi, Saiss and Ziyech chose Morocco?
All three players opted against representing their country of birth at senior international level, with Hakimi coming in for specific focus, as his Panenka spot kick knocked out Spain.
Each player as their own background to tell but the Morocco squad is showing a fantastic example of cultural and national togetherness as they prepare to try and make history.
Achraf Hakimi
Hakimi joined the Real Madrid youth set up as an 8-year-old after being spotted by Los Blancos scouts playing for his school in the Spanish capital.
The PSG full back confirmed he was approached to represent Spain at underage level, but he claimed the scenario just did not feel right, in comparison to his connection with Moroccan and Arab culture at home.
Achraf Hakimi celebrating with his mother after defeating Spain in the Round of 16 is everything ❤️🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/XPiBNtHpNc
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2022
He opted to stick by his decision to represent Morocco, with an U20 debut whilst still at Real Madrid, before breaking into the senior team later that year.
Roman Saiss
Morocco skipper Saiss has not been as outspoken as Hakimi about his connections to other national sides after opting to represent his father's birth country.
In a 2017 interview with The Guardian he hinted at his late entrance to top-flight football playing a role but he has remained steadfast in his commitment, despite not always being a first-choice pick.
Hakim Ziyech
Ziyech returned to the Morocco fold ahead of Qatar 2022, after previously stating his intention to retire on the heels of a falling out with previous boss Vahid Halilhodžić.
Regragui persuaded him to come back into the squad, but Ziyech's international career has been littered with changes.
After originally representing the Netherlands across U20/U21 level, he switched allegiance to Morocco in 2015, in a major blow to Dutch plans.
Ziyech followed Hakimi's message by stating the move was motivated by a desire to represent his family in Morocco.