Morocco, Egypt impress with notable draws despite winless World Cup start for Mideast teams |
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Morocco, Egypt impress with notable draws despite winless World Cup start for Mideast teams
Several teams from the Middle East and North Africa could advance to the knockout stage under the new format, and Morocco climbed in the rankings despite a tie in its opener.
Adam Lucente
Jun 18, 2026
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Achraf Hakimi #2 of Morocco shoots and misses a chance against Gabriel Magalhaes #3 of Brazil during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Morocco at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 13, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. — Dan Mullan/Getty Images
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Teams from the Middle East and North Africa opened the FIFA World Cup without a victory, though several secured notable draws against higher-ranked opponents as attention now turns to a difficult slate of upcoming matches — including a regional showdown between Jordan and Algeria.
Qatar, hosts of the 2022 World Cup, opened its campaign with a draw against Switzerland on June 13, while Morocco held fellow title contender Brazil to a draw the same day. Tunisia suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Sweden on June 14, while Turkey fell 2-0 to Australia.
Egypt earned one of........