Morocco
Everywhere at once!

The December 2022 World Cup in Qatar had a major impact on Morocco’s global image after it became the first African country to qualify for the semi-finals. From Africa to the Arab world, France, Europe, the United States, Latin America, Australia and Japan, the global media cast a spotlight on the courageous and talented underdog team that knocked heavyweights like Spain and Portugal out of the competition.

But it takes more than fancy footwork to make it into our top 15: Morocco boasts many other assets as well. Casablanca is a major economic capital and a gateway to the African continent. The kingdom is a leading tourist destination with cities like Marrakech, Fez and Essaouira drawing visitors and VIPs from around the world. There is a crowded festival schedule. Mehdi Qotbi is like a whirlwind, forging many ties between Morocco's museums, starting with the flagship MM6, the Mohammed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, and major international institutions. The busy, committed diaspora is a bridge between the homeland and the rest of the world: Examples like writers Leïla Slimani and Tahar Ben Jelloun, actors Jamel Debbouze and Gad Elmaleh and Rotterdam mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb spring to mind. The kingdom carries real diplomatic clout, but that comes with its own constraints. By joining the Abraham Accords, the country has strengthened its ties with the United States, Israel and the Jewish diaspora, especially from Morocco. It has become essential. But its rising profile can fuel tensions, as the European Parliament affair and recent spat with France show.