Morocco vs Spain live: World Cup score, highlights, result from 2022 Round of 16 match

Spain’s bid to return to the summit of the world game has seen them paired with Morocco in the Qatar 2022 Round of 16, after Luis Enrique’s side surprisingly finished second in Group E.

A shock 2-1 defeat to Japan in their final group game — the Samurai Blue’s second upset win of the group after beating Germany in their opener — edged La Roja off top spot, and they now take on Group F winners Morocco in the first knockout stage.

The North Africans have been one of the surprise packages in Qatar, with Walid Regragui’s team reaching the Round of 16 for the first time since 1986.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights for Morocco vs Spain at the 2022 World Cup. Follow for complete results from the Round of 16 match in Qatar.

MORE: How to watch Morocco vs Spain

Morocco vs Spain score

Goals:
None

Projected lineups:

Morocco projected line up (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 11. Sabiri — 7. Ziyech, 17. En-Nesyri, 19. Boufal

Spain projected lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 20. Carvajal, 3. Garcia, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres, 7. Morata, 21. Olmo.

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Morocco vs Spain live updates, highlights from 2022 World Cup

3 hrs from kickoff: Pass masters Spain completed 2,489 of them in the group stages of this World Cup – their most in a single group stage since records began in 1966.

There’s surely a lesson for Morocco in La Roja’s defeat to Japan, though, when their total of 82.3% possession and 969 passes in represented records for a losing team in a World Cup game over the last 56 years.

3 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Today’s underdogs are featuring in the knockout stages of the World Cup for only the second time. They reached the Round of 16 in 1986, losing 1-0 to Germany.

4 hrs from kickoff: Morocco can equal a record today after going unbeaten in their last four matches at the World Cup, winning two of them.

The only African team to go five consecutive World Cup games without defeat are Cameroon, winning twice and drawing three times between 1982 and 1990.

4 hrs 30 mins from kickoff: Spain have never lost in three previous meetings with Morocco, with their two wins both coming in qualifying play-off legs for the 1962 World Cup in November 1961, when they triumphed 1-0 away and 3-2 at home.

5 hrs from kickoff: Morocco, in the Round of 16 for the first time in 36 years, are out to prove they belong among in the company of World Cup contenders. Spain, beaten by Japan last time out, want to show that was a mere blip on their road to glory. This has the makings of a classic.

🛑 ¡¡PAAAAARADÓN DE UNAIIIIII!!

😌 Sí, también en los entrenamientos. #VamosEspaña | #Catar2022 pic.twitter.com/BWAeeVVEEB

— Selección Española de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) December 4, 2022

Morocco vs Spain lineups, team news

Regragui confirmed no fresh injuries following Morocco’s 2-1 win over Canada, with key duo Yassine Bounou and Achraf Hakimi passed fit, and he could stick with an unchanged team.

Morocco projected lineup (4-3-3): 1. Bono (GK) — 2. Hakimi, 5. Aguerd, 6. Saiss, 3. Mazraoui — 8. Ounahi, 4. Amrabat, 11. Sabiri — 7. Ziyech, 17. En-Nesyri, 19. Boufal

Spain’s shock loss to Japan could force a rethink for Enrique, with Aymeric Laporte one option to return at the back, and Jordi Alba and Marco Asensio also in line for a recall.

Spain projected lineup (4-3-3): 23. Simon (GK) — 20. Carvajal, 3. Garcia, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres, 7. Morata, 21. Olmo.

Morocco vs Spain live stream, TV channel

Morocco take on Spain at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan on December 6 with kickoff set at 18:00 local time in Qatar.

Here’s how you can watch all the action in some of the major global territories.