There were feelings of pride and of disappointment among members of the Moroccan community on Saturday evening after the Moroccan national football team’s defeat in the match for third place in the 2022 World Cup. Although Morocco were beaten by Croatia in what was a hard-fought match with no lack of excitement, Moroccan-Belgians felt proud at what the Moroccan team had achieved. However, there was also some disappointment that the Moroccan team was unable to get the better of the Croats.
The Atlas Lions became the first ever national team from the African continent to progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup.
After the match things remained relative calm in both Antwerp and Brussels and there was no repeat of the violence and vandalism that followed some of Morocco’s previous World Cup games. Police in both Antwerp and Brussels had made preparations to deal with any trouble that might arise. However, there was relative calm. Around Brussel South Railway Station and on the Turnhoutsebaan in the Antwerp district of Borgerhout there was some tension and fireworks were let off just after the match.
Nevertheless, less than an hour after the final whistle, the Lemonnierlaan in Central Brussels and a section of the Brussels Inner Ring Road that had been closed as a precautionary measure had reopened.
VRT News’ reporter Stef Meerbergen said that “The Moroccans here are in two minds. On the one hand there is great pride at what Morocco has achieved at the World Cup, but on the other hand there is clear disappointment. With this evening's match their World Cup is completely over”.