Morocco became the first national team to achieve a unique record during their 1-1 draw with Brazil in Group C of the World Cup.
The Africa Cup of Nations champions delivered an impressive performance against Carlo Ancelotti’s team, with 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi among the standout players.
PSV forward Ismael Saibari gave Morocco the lead in the first half after collecting a precise pass from Brahim Diaz and lifting the ball over Brazil goalkeeper Alisson.
Brazil equalised in the 32nd minute when Vinicius Junior scored with a powerful shot into the corner of the net.
The result was not the one Brazil had hoped for. It means they may need Morocco to drop points in their remaining matches if they want to finish top of the group, even if they win their next two games.
Brazil are one of several teams at this World Cup whose squads are mostly made up of players from leagues outside their home country.
Lucas Paqueta of Flamengo was the only player in Brazil’s starting lineup who plays in his country’s domestic league.
Morocco, meanwhile, did not have a single player in their starting lineup playing in the Moroccan league.
Three of their starters, Issa Diop, Chadi Riad and Noussair Mazraoui, play in the Premier League. Former Leicester City midfielder Bilal El Khannouss now plays for Stuttgart in Germany, while Achraf Hakimi plays for Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain.
The only two players in Morocco’s squad who play for clubs in Morocco are reserve goalkeepers Munir Mohamedi and Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti.
**Morocco’s historic achievement**
Along with having all 11 starters playing outside Morocco, the team also had an entire lineup of players born outside the country during part of the second half.
Nine of the 11 players were born in Spain, France, or Belgium. Manchester United full-back Mazraoui was born in Leiderdorp in the Netherlands.
Goalkeeper Bono was born in Montreal, Canada.
Head coach Mohamed Ouahbi, who was taking charge of his first competitive match against Brazil, was born in Brussels, Belgium.
Centre-back Issa Diop, who was born in Toulouse, France, represented France at youth level up to the Under-21 team before switching his international allegiance to Morocco earlier this year.
The record was set in the 65th minute when Strasbourg winger Samir El Mourabet replaced Morocco-born midfielder Azzedine Ounahi.
El Mourabet was born in Strasbourg and came through the French club’s youth academy. At 20 years old, he is regarded as one of Morocco’s promising young talents.
The record lasted for 24 minutes before Morocco-born forward Soufiane Rahimi came on as a substitute late in the match in New York.
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