Morocco reaches last 16 after three decades

Morocco has made history and become the sole Arab team to make the second round of the 2022 World Cup, 36 years after doing so back in 1986.

They defeated Canada 2-1 in Group F on Thursday.

After that famous 2-0 win over Belgium on Sunday, the Atlas Lions needed just a point against the already-eliminated North Americans and raced into a 2-0 lead by the midway point of the first half.

Walid Regragui stood in the middle of a team huddle as his players reached out and patted him vigorously on the head.

Then they threw their coach in the air, almost as if they had already won the World Cup.

Regragui has been an international coach for less than three months but still guided Morocco to a 2-1 win over Canada that put the team into the last 16 and clinched first place in Group F ahead of 2018 finalist Croatia and semifinalist Belgium.