Wanting to Be Close to History - Over 50,000 Morocco Fans Found their Way into Doha Overnight - With or Without Match Ticket

Earlier today Wednesday, Morocco’s national airline, Royal Air Maroc (RAM), cancelled several flights to Doha, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, citing restrictions imposed by Qatari authorities.

An array of Moroccans without tickets for today’s match have descended in Doha and are desperately trying to find a way to secure a seat inside Al Bayt Stadium to watch their beloved Atlas Lions play

Iman Zarouk, a 40-year-old pharmacist from Fez, arrived on Wednesday morning with her husband and two friends. They do not have tickets for the fixture against France, which marks Morocco’s first-ever World Cup semifinal, or a place to stay.

“We just booked our flight yesterday for 500 euros ($532) … that is quite expensive,” Zarouk told Al Jazeera at Doha’s Souq Waqif while lugging around her suitcase.

“We have no accommodation but I want to be here to support our team in any way,” she added.

“I don’t think Morocco will get another chance to be in the semifinal … we wanted to at least try to be at this very important match.”

Morocco fan Rachid Haddoun may be without a ticket for today’s match, but he’s determined to be “as close” to the Atlas Lions as possible as they face off against France in the semifinals.

“I want be in the moment … where it’s all happening,” Haddoun, 54, told Al Jazeera at Doha’s Souq Waqif. Haddoun represent the mind of over 50,000 Moroccan fans that have found their way into Doha overnight.

“I am doing everything to try and get a ticket … but if not I will just watch the game on TV or from a fan zone, I want to be close to them [the Morocco team],” he added.

“Its a once in a lifetime experience … Morocco is playing for Arabs, Africans and the Muslim world.”

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