As part of The Athletic's Language of Soccer World Cup series, which speaks to supporters of all 48 nations competing at the 2026 edition, Morocco's unique football culture has been distilled into a single powerful phrase: "Dima Maghreb" — Always Morocco.

The Heartbeat of Moroccan Support

Oussama Marhoum serves as the capo of Morocco's prominent fan group RossoVerde, but he doesn't simply watch the national team's matches — he stands behind the goal, back to the pitch, dictating the rhythm of the chants and drums that drive the team forward.

"I believe the real job of the supporters is to push the players to the win," Oussama tells The Athletic. "Everybody else is watching, but we are special, we are here to be the player No 12. The players do not watch, they play. We are playing the game in our own way — our voice is our skills."

Morroco heads to the 2026 World Cup sitting eighth in the FIFA world rankings, having been named, in remarkable circumstances, winners of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They were beaten 1-0 by Senegal in the final in January, having missed a stoppage-time penalty. However, 57 days later, the Confederation of African Football announced that Morocco had been handed the title, after Senegalese players left the pitch in protest at the awarding of that late spot kick.

"What happened in the final was deeply painful," says Reda Alaoui, the group's communications manager. "It was very absurd behaviour, it hurt everyone here in Morocco but the decision is very good because what the Senegal players have done is something that should not be repeatable."

A Culture Born from Identity

Morocco has a long-established fan culture when it comes to club football, with Casablanca clubs Raja and Wydad playing each other in a passionate 'clasico' where each end is lit up with red flares and fireworks for Wydad or green for Raja.

"In Morocco, supporting a club is not just about going to a game," explains Amine Bourazzouk, the founder of RossoVerde. "It is part of daily life, part of your identity, part of your neighbourhood, your city, and your way of expressing yourself."

"When the national team plays, that football culture carries over. The mentality is to sing, to push, to stay active and to make the players feel that the whole country is behind them."

There is also deep history behind that passion. After 1998, Morocco was absent from the World Cup for a long time, so when they returned in 2018 in Russia, it meant a tremendous amount to the fans. It felt like Morocco was back where it belongs. Moroccan fans came in huge numbers from Morocco itself, but also from across the diaspora, from many different countries worldwide.

The Rise of Dima Maghreb

Morocco is a country with a very strong national identity, particularly when it comes to football, and the slogan 'Dima Maghreb' — Always Morocco — has become synonymous with the team. It adorned the side of the open-top bus that paraded the players around the capital of Rabat in 2022, after their historic fourth-placed finish at the Qatar World Cup.

The group's aim, through its largely young leadership, is to channel the nation's huge passion for the sport into the national team, while unifying longer-term fans with the families and young supporters who have been attracted to the team following 2022. Since then, the group's membership has grown to more than 600 people.

"Here in Morocco the culture of being a fan, the passion of football, starts from being born," says Oussama, 28.

"When the national team plays, the whole country stops," adds Reda, 23. "The streets are empty. Rich and poor people, young and old, north and south, everyone is watching together. It is one of the few moments where every Moroccan feels exactly the same thing at exactly the same time, we are synchronised."

Carrying Morocco Across the Globe

Morocco fans will indeed arrive in the United States with a reputation for their passionate support, something that has become particularly well known throughout Africa.

"It's often said that what Moroccan fans bring to a stadium is something unique on the international stage," says Samir Lahmouzi, who lives and works in Belgium. "This is something consistently reflected in post-match interviews from opposing players, many of whom describe the atmosphere as unprecedented in terms of noise levels and energy."

That requires extensive preparation. "What may look like a routine on matchday is actually the result of extensive preparation," explains a group member known as Badr. "Each fixture requires at least three weeks of planning, particularly as the group has grown significantly in recent years."

"This includes organising visual displays, coordinating chants, mobilising the musical section and managing logistics such as transport, equipment and accommodation."

While fans have concerns about the accessibility and affordability of tickets for the tournament this summer, as well as the need to obtain a visa via interviews at the embassy, they intend to travel and take the Moroccan fan culture with them.

"Every trip we've made — whether to Qatar, Ivory Coast, Uzbekistan or France — has gone far beyond football," says Samir. "It's about meeting people, discovering cultures and sharing a collective passion. We expect the United States to be no different, but on an even larger scale."

A New Era of Ambition

These are heady times for Morocco, with their admittedly controversial AFCON victory behind them, and having been the first African side to seal qualification for this summer's tournament, where they will look to build on their 2022 semi-final achievement.

"Moroccan fans have a particular psychology," Reda explains. "We are proud, but realistic. We have learned to dream carefully because we have been brokenhearted from many past editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, and in the Russia World Cup in 2018 we played well but we didn't get good results."

"But when we reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Qatar, the mindset was changed. It was like something unlocked. We used to be just polite guests, but we are starting to believe in ourselves, in our skills. We have many skilful players. Why not get the title? Why not?"

"Now, there is a new generation of fans who can expect results, not just participation. The identity of Moroccan football is very passionate. Loud, and passionate, and increasingly confident."

The Road Ahead

Morocco has been drawn in a fascinating group alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti, each with their own particular national identity. The Moroccan fans, particularly those members of RossoVerde, will head to their games in New Jersey, Foxborough, and Atlanta not just with genuine hope that their team will make an impact, but with genuine hope that they themselves will play a role in that success.

"That is what makes Moroccan fans special," Amine concludes. "We do not come just to watch. We come to sing, to push, and to carry the team for 90 minutes. For us, that is the mentality. We want the players to feel that they are never alone."

"If you only want to watch the game, then maybe you are better off in a cafe or at home. In the stands, our role is to support, to create energy and to be part of the match."