Morocco's Quarter-Final Run Takes World Cup Earnings To N82 Billion

Morocco's Quarter-Final Run Takes World Cup Earnings To N82 Billion

By Our Reporter 

Morocco have emerged as Africa's highest-earning national team across the past two FIFA World Cups after collecting a combined $58 million (approximately N82 billion) in prize money from their historic campaigns in 2022 and 2026.

The Atlas Lions received $31.5 million (about N45 billion) for reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, adding to the $26.5 million earned following their historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

Morocco's 2026 earnings comprised a $10 million participation fee, a $2.5 million tournament preparation grant and $19 million in performance-based prize money for progressing to the last eight.

The figures underline Morocco's growing stature on the global stage. In Qatar 2022, the Atlas Lions became the first African and Arab nation to reach a FIFA World Cup semi-final before backing up that achievement with another quarter-final appearance four years later.

Their 2026 campaign came to an end with a 2-0 defeat to France in Thursday's quarter-final, as goals from Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé secured victory for Les Bleus. The result mirrored the scoreline of Morocco's 2-0 semi-final defeat to France at the 2022 World Cup.

France, who have now reached the World Cup semi-finals for a third consecutive tournament, will face Spain for a place in the final.

Among the other African representatives at the 2026 World Cup, Egypt recorded the continent's second-highest earnings after collecting $17.5 million for reaching the Round of 16.

Senegal, Algeria, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa and Ghana each received $13.5 million in prize money following their participation in the tournament.