Morocco’s Atlas Lions are once again drawing global acclaim at the 2026 World Cup, delivering standout performances that have earned praise and drew media attention from across the world. Yet, Algeria stands out with its censorship of the word “Morocco,” acting as if the Atlas Lions do not exist in an attempt to hide the sun from its own people using a sift.
Morocco secured qualification for the round of 16 after a strong group-stage run, including a 1-1 draw with Brazil, a 1-0 win over Scotland and a 4–2 victory against Haiti. The results have reinforced the team’s growing reputation following its historic semi-final run in 2022.
However, in Algeria, the Moroccan victory over Haiti appears to have gone largely unreported on state television, which mentioned all other matches. During a broadcast summarizing the latest World Cup matches on June 25, Algerian viewers were presented with multiple results, but not Morocco’s decisive win.
The omission quickly drew attention online, with commentators and social media users pointing to what they described as a recurring pattern in Algerian sports coverage.
Observers note that similar incidents occurred during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At the time, Moroccan matches were at times absent from segments covering tournament results, or referenced indirectly without explicitly naming Morocco.
Such editorial choices have been interpreted by some analysts as part of a broader media posture toward Morocco.
Sports, particularly football, have occasionally been used as a platform by the military regime Algeria to spread anti-Moroccan sentiments.
Reports from recent tournaments hosted in Morocco indicated instances where references to the host country, including logos and branding, were obscured or omitted in Algerian-related coverage.
During the 2022 World Cup, Algerian television ultimately reported Morocco’s semi-final qualification following the victory over Portugal.
The broadcast stood out precisely because it broke with earlier patterns of omission, and it fueled broader discussions about editorial independence in the country’s public media.
However, for how long again will Algerian media continue to censor Morocco? Morocco’s results, and the impact they are having on the global stage, are increasingly impossible to ignore.
