The Moroccan national soccer team raised Palestine’s flag after winning their historic world cup match against Spain to stand with the Palestinian struggle.
Morocco players celebrate after the team’s victory in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on Dec. 6, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Morocco became the first Arab nation to reach the World Cup quarter finals, after beating Spain 3-0 in penalties on Tuesday Dec. 6.
Morocco’s players throw their coach Walid Regragui in the air as they celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, on Dec. 6, 2022. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Its goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, saved two penalties, while Achraf Hakimi scored the decisive and third goal of the night.
Morocco’s defender #02 Achraf Hakimi (2nd Right) celebrates with teammates after converting the last penalty during the penalty shoot-out to win the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Dec. 6, 2022. (Photo by JAVIER SORIANO/AFP via Getty Images)
The team’s group photo after the match shows the north African team posing and raising the Palestinian flag.
Morocco’s players celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on Dec. 6, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
This is not the first time Palestine’s flag has been raised.
Morocco players celebrate after their win in the penalty shoot out during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on Dec. 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Morocco’s Jawad El Yamiq had raised the flag in celebration after the team won against Canada and qualified for the round of 16 earlier in the competition.
Jawad El Yamiq of Morocco celebrates after their victory through the penalty shootout during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on Dec. 06, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Spectators have also shown support to Palestine, with many bringing the flag and “Free Palestine” banners to the matches.
Romain Saiss of Morocco celebrates after the team’s victory during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on Dec. 6, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
“Palestine is the 33rd country in the World Cup,” Abdullah Mansouri, a Moroccan fan told the New York Times. “Palestine is our cause, our struggle in the Arab world, in all the Arab world.”
Yassine Bounou of Morocco celebrates with teammates after the penalty shootout win during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 match between Morocco and Spain at Education City Stadium on Dec. 6, 2022 in Al Rayyan, Qatar. (Photo by Patrick Smith – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Online, people have praised the team for standing up for the cause and are calling Palestine the winner of the World Cup.
“Every North African and Middle East team has made sure that the Palestine issue is prominent at every game,” ESPN writer, Mark Ogden, pointed out.
“Palestine is our second country, is our topic, is our identity — like humanity, like Muslim people,” another fan, Aicha Hajjaj told the New York Times. “They are suffering.”
Morocco’s players celebrate at the end of the Qatar 2022 World Cup round of 16 football match between Morocco and Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 6, 2022. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
