Morocco vs Spain 3-0 on penalties – As it happened

Well, that’s it from us. Morocco beat Spain on penalties to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. It was quite a journey bringing you the football and the euphoria that followed Morocco’s win.

They will now take on Portugal in the quarter-finals on Saturday. We’ll see you then … and leave you with this:

Watch the exact moment Hakimi's penalty crosses the goal line, sending Morocco through to the quarters. A ⚽️mad nation delirious, hitting heights they never have before. Moments these young fans in Casablanca will never forget ❤️🙌🇲🇦 (via @elchiringuitotv)pic.twitter.com/O4sfJBKB3U

— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 6, 2022

Hundreds of people are still out on the streets celebrating Morocco’s win in Doha’s downtown Msheireb area — families, groups of men and women.

Some look exhausted but many are doing their best to keep the jubilant mood going by blowing vuvuzelas and horns.

Car traffic has backed up in parts of the neighbourhood and streams of people are walking around as the traffic wardens do their best to ease the congestion.

Business is roaring in Doha’s Souq Waqif as restaurants and cafes continue to serve fans into the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Shopkeepers selling football accessories have changed shopfront displays from Lionel Messi and Neymar shirts to Moroccan flags.

Fans of the Atlas Lions, clad in their team’s jerseys and waving Moroccan flags, can be seen every few hundred metres. They are out to paint Doha red, and they will not go home any time soon.

“Espana, Espana, this is the way to the airport, Espana,” a group of Moroccan taunted their Spanish counterparts before bidding them farewell with a hug.

It is a day where history was made. Moroccans could not be more proud.

A day full of emotions and pure happiness. Full of hugs and congratulations. A coach and his dedicated team have brought all Moroccan people together as one.

Against all odds, Morocco’s national team became the first Arab country to make it this far in the World Cup.

People in Morocco, now more than ever, are full of hope. As the Moroccan coach said: “Why not the World Cup? We have everything it takes to win. It’s all about faith.”

By Khadija Satou in Marrakesh

Walid Bougi, originally from the Moroccan capital Rabat, says he has “never seen Doha like this”.

“Everyone is out supporting Morocco tonight. It’s so amazing. I see people from the Philippines, Nepal holding the [Moroccan] flag,” the 28-year-old Doha resident said.

“Doha is not always a busy place. People don’t go out much. But, today it’s very alive,” he said.

Drivers across Doha are honking car horns in a raucous and loud celebration of Morocco’s win over Spain and their advance to the quarter-finals.

Supporters are singing and dancing in the streets and it doesn’t look like there will be much sleep tonight in the World Cup’s host nation.

It is now well past midnight and the crowds in Msheireb near Souq Waqif in Doha’s old downtown are in no mood to stop celebrating.

Jubilant Morocco supporters have gathered around a group of people singing with a tambourine and drum and are following wherever the singers go.

If this is the celebration when Morocco advances to the quarter-finals, it is hard to imagine what the scenes on the streets of Doha will look like if the Moroccan side goes even further in the World Cup tournament.

It is past midnight in Doha, but Wafa Talib al-Marri and her three daughters are standing in the middle of Souq Waqif to distribute sweets to passers-by.

“We are overjoyed for Morocco, and this is our way of showing our delight,” al-Marri said.

In what has become a common sight during the World Cup, Qatari families have been offering sweets, snacks, and drinks to football fans outside match venues and in fan zones.

“Today, Morocco has reached the quarter-finals, but we want them to win the World Cup for the Arab world.”

Abdul Hak and his family came straight from the match to join in the celebrations here in Msheireb, the centre of Doha.

“I have work at six in the morning … but we wanted to come out and show more support,” the 47-year-old who works in the oil and gas industry told Al Jazeera.

His wife Najah was confident the team can win the next match as well.

“Even with Ronaldo … we will win,” she said, referring to Morocco’s upcoming game against Portugal.

Here in Msheireb, downtown Doha, passing cars are honking, giving the thumbs up sign and waving the Moroccan flag outside their windows to celebrate the historic win.

Fans of the Atlas Lions are out and about looking for a place to gather and eat, after what was a thriller of a game. Some are headed to nearby Souq Waqif to meet friends and celebrate some more.

“In football, anything can happen. Nobody expected us to be here and reach the quarters. We are the dark horse of the World Cup,” Umaima, a Moroccan supporter, said while celebrating Morocco’s win in Doha’s Souq Waqif market.

“The new coach, who is Moroccan, put this thing in them that they need to do it [win] and I think against Portugal they will,” Umaima told Al Jazeera.

Morocco is set to play against Portugal in the quarter-finals on December 10.

A crowd of young people waving Moroccan, Egyptian, Algerian and Palestinian flags gathered in the centre of Spain’s second-largest city, Barcelona, where fans of FC Barcelona traditionally celebrate big victories. People cheered to the sound of drums. Some were lighting flares.

In a restaurant where viewers of the game had congregated, people jumped on tables and lifted chairs in the air. Outside, cars honked and people lit firecrackers and red and green smoke bombs.

Youssef Lotfi, a 39-year-old construction worker who was born in Casablanca but moved to Spain as a child and said he feels love for both countries, was brimming with pride.

“Today is a day of joy for Moroccans and all the Arab world,” Lotfi said. “It was a heart-attack finish that could have gone either way.”

In Ceuta, a Spanish exclave which borders with Morocco on the North African coast, the win was also celebrated with cars honking horns. Ceuta’s population is a mix of Spaniards and Moroccan residents and workers.

“What pride! What happiness! Now to celebrate with friends. I have lost my voice!” said 20-year-old Ismael Mustafa. “We were able to pull it off. For Spain? You will win next time, so no worries.”

Marrakesh erupted after Achraf Hakimi converted the last penalty.

People were crying and praying. It was intense.

What a time to be on a Christmas break to Marrakesh, absolute scenes tonight in the Souk!!! Mega @GaryLineker @BBCSport @Sash1b1x pic.twitter.com/O9RJlrucHn

— iain miller (@iainmiller2) December 6, 2022

Now the streets are packed with cars and motorcycles. There are people out everywhere, singing and chanting, not caring who Morocco will face in the quarter-finals.

Police forces are also present but they are allowing people to celebrate.

By Khadija Satou in Marrakesh

Exuberant Moroccans poured into the streets of their capital, waving flags and honking horns to celebrate their national football team’s historic victory over Spain.

“We are so proud of our Lions who fought hard to get us into the quarterfinals,” said Rabat resident Niama Meddoun. “We are delighted to be Moroccans today since we are the first Arab country that has reached the quarterfinals.”

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, praised the national team and sent his “heartfelt congratulations” to the players, the technical team and administrative personnel “who gave their all and blazed a trail throughout this great sporting event,” according to a statement from the royal palace.

The king said the players represented “hopes and dreams of Moroccans in Morocco, Qatar, and all over the world”.

Usher Komugisha, a football analyst, said Morocco’s defensive performance was one to be proud of.

“Under [coach] Walid Regragui, Morocco has not conceded a goal since he took charge in August this year,” Komugisha told Al Jazeera.

“There is no better script here in football than what we’ve seen tonight,” she continued.

“Achraf Hakimi, born in Madrid, defeats Spain. Yassine Bounou, best La Liga goalkeeper last season, and he is the one who knocks out Spain from this tournament.

“Morocco were very well prepared, and can be very proud of their performance.”

It was ecstasy for Morocco and sheer anguish for Spain as the Atlas Lions defeated the former world champions on penalties at Qatar’s Education City Stadium and secured a quarter-final berth for the first time in World Cup history.

Click here to see more photos of fans celebrating.

Saad al-Qadiri has been in Qatar since Morocco’s first group match and has seen his team win two World Cup games before tonight. But this win, he said, was very special.

“Tonight is an incredible night, we have never felt this way before. This is for all of Africa, for the Arab world, for the Muslim world and for Qatar. We played for everybody,” he told Al Jazeera.

Shouting over the loud Moroccan celebrations in the middle of Souq Waqif in Doha, al-Qadiri said he will always be thankful to Spain for giving Achraf Hakimi the opportunity to grow as a player, but the right back always carried Morocco in his heart.

“He [Hakimi] followed his heart and decided to play for Morocco. We can’t thank him and the team enough for giving us this night. Morocco is in his blood and he is in Moroccan hearts.”

Celebrations rang out among Palestinians living in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In an indoor hall in Gaza City, Palestinians waved the Moroccan flag and cheered loudly once the final whistle blew.

Watch: Palestinian football fans in Gaza celebrate Morocco's victory over Spain at #FIFAWorldCup 🇵🇸🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/QjxXDkFsFM

— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) December 6, 2022

In a cafe in occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, fans reacted with glee, dancing and chanting “Maghreb” to the beat of a drum.

أجواء حماسية وهتافات للمنتخب المغربي في البلدة القديمة بالقدس بعد فوزه على إسبانيا وتأهله للدور ربع النهائي pic.twitter.com/dJwPS4NFxA

— AlQastal القسطل (@AlQastalps) December 6, 2022

The Moroccan team posed with the Palestine flag after the match, as they had done so in their previous game.

The solidarity with Palestine at the World Cup is a powerful and welcome reminder that normalization with Israel is not the will of the people. In Qatar and beyond, the message is clear: to stand with Palestine is to be on the right side of history. 🇲🇦✊🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/UtLmshq405

— IMEU (@theIMEU) December 6, 2022