FIFA moderators shut down the line of questioning. Brazil’s Marta reacts during the Women’s World Cup Group F soccer match between Brazil and Panama in Adelaide, Australia, Monday, July 24, 2023. There was a tense moment at Sunday’s pre-match news conference when a reporter pointedly asked if there were any LGBTQ players on the team because same-sex relationships are against the law in Morocco.

“This is a great milestone for us and we hope that our match with Germany tomorrow will pave the way for other matches,” Chebbak said about the team’s debut. Morocco has a large Muslim population.įIFA allowed Muslim players to wear a hijab during competitions in 2014, and at this World Cup, Nouhaila Benzina will be the first player to wear a hijab at the senior women’s tournament. Women’s soccer is still in its infancy in the northern Africa country, where religious conservatives object to women playing sports. “We have great motivation and are eager to make our mark in this tournament.” The Reggae Girlz had just sent Brazil and Marta home by holding them to a 0-0 draw Wednesday night, and Shaw shared emotional words with one.

We feel a sense of pride and honor to represent our country on the world stage,” captain Ghizlane Chebbak said through a translator. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Before leaving the Women’s World Cup as a player for the sixth and last time, Marta embraced Jamaica captain Khadija Bunny Shaw. “We are really proud in Morocco for the achievements we have made so far. The Atlas Lionesses open their Group H match in Melbourne against Germany, winners of back-to-back tournaments in 20. Morocco is the first Arab nation to play in the Women’s World Cup, qualifying as runners-up in the Africa Cup of Nations. Morocco enters its first Women’s World Cup hoping to put together the kind of fairy tale run the men’s team did last year in Qatar, when the national team made it to the semifinals in Qatar before losing to France and then Croatia in the third-place game.

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