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Fifa World Cup 2022: Morocco fans scramble for tickets for Spain match

  • The last Arab and African side still in the tournament, Morocco has been willed on by some of most impassioned fans at the event
  • Moroccans have been flying into Qatar for their team’s knockout match against Spain, while fans already there were desperately trying to get tickets

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A fan supporting Morocco poses prior to its knock-out match against Spain. Photo: AP

Moroccans flew into Qatar for their team’s knockout World Cup match against Spain on Tuesday as fans already in the country tried desperately to get their hands on tickets.

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The last Arab and African side left in World Cup, Morocco has been willed on by some of the most impassioned fans at the tournament, many of whom live and work in Qatar and are hoping to see their team advance to its first quarter final.

But Morocco’s matches have also been testing for organisers. There was pushing and shoving outside the stadium as ticketless fans gathered ahead of its December 1 defeat of Canada, with some trying to climb the fence.

Ahead of kick-off on Tuesday, security appeared tighter than at other games, with rows of riot police deployed on the ground and on horseback as fans walked towards the stadium.

On Monday night, more than 1,000 Moroccan fans had gathered at the official ticketing office, desperate to attend the match against 2010 champions Spain. Reuters journalists saw at least two scuffles and riot police deploy as the crowd swelled.

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One fan said many had left empty-handed. Some said they had come after seeing social media posts saying the Moroccan embassy and football association would distribute free tickets. Reuters could not reach the Moroccan football federation for comment.

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