Morocco take on defending World Cup holders France in the semi-finals of Qatar 2022 this Wednesday. So, HITC Football has taken a look at how the countries’ populations compare.
The Atlas Lions have been one of the true surprises of the 22nd edition of the quadrennial FIFA tournament. They have come through a testing run of fixtures to reach the final four. Morocco are also the only African team to ever reach the semi-finals of any World Cup yet.
Walid Regragui’s side came through a Group F consisting of defeated 2018 finalists Croatia and the #2-ranked FIFA nation, Belgium. Not only that, Morocco topped their table only to secure a Round of 16 match with Spain. Yet the Atlas Lions edged La Roja 3-0 on penalties.
Spain dominated the time in possession but could not find a way to break Morocco down. Yassine Bounou then ensured La Roja also did not find a way to score in their shootout. He denied Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler and Sergio Busquets from 12 yards out after a 0-0 draw.
Yet beating Spain would only set Morocco up to face Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Round of 16. But they came through the tie as 1-0 victors after Youssef En-Nesyri’s header on 42 minutes. The Atlas Lions were happy to sit in and attack the Selecao on the counter.
France now await Morocco in the Atlas Lions’ dream World Cup at Qatar 2022
France should now expect a resilient Morocco squad to try and soak up the pressure Kylian Mbappe and co produce. The Paris Saint-Germain star is the talisman of Didier Deschamps’ squad at Qatar 2022. He has five goals in as many ties as the winger eyes the Golden Boot.
Mbappe’s efforts helped France finish top of Group D with wins over Australia and Demark before losing 1-0 to Tunisia. Although Deschamps made nine changes to face the Eagles of Carthage with a last 16 game against Poland, which they would win 3-1, already in the bag.
England would not stop Deschamps’ starting XI from advancing to successive World Cup semi-finals, either. Harry Kane blazed his second penalty of the tie and his chance to draw the Three Lions level again over the bar after netting once. Les Bleus held on for a 2-1 win.
Now, France await Morocco in the Atlas Lions’ dream World Cup journey at Qatar 2022 at Al Bayt Stadium. They will meet on Wednesday, December 14 at 19:00 GMT for a place in the final at the Lusail Iconic Stadium this Sunday, December 18, which kicks off at 15:00 GMT.
So, ahead of their semi-final showdown in Al Khor, HITC Football has taken a look at how Morocco’s population compares to France – a two-time World Cup winner eying a third…
What is the population of Morocco compared to France?
According to the United States government’s Census Bureau, the estimated populations of 2022 World Cup semi-final opponents Morocco and France are 37,000,000 and 68,000,000 (to the nearest million) respectively. They rank 14th and seventh among the sides in Qatar.
The United States Men’s National Team come from the nation with the biggest population among the 32 sides to qualify for the 2022 World Cup at 337m. Brazil (217m) follow ahead of Mexico (129m), Japan (124m), Iran (87m) and Germany (84m) before France with 68m.
Qatar, on the other hand, were the smallest nation at the 2022 World Cup with the hosts’ population just 2.5m. Uruguay with a population of 3.4m, meanwhile, failed to get out of their group at a World Cup for the first time since they failed to qualify for Germany 2006.
Croatia, though, reached the semi-finals at a second World Cup in succession despite being the third-smallest nation at Qatar 2022 by population. Vatreni’s squad came from a nation of just 4m. It is less than Costa Rica (5m), Denmark (6m), Serbia (7m) and Switzerland’s (8.5m).
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
