Moroccan football fans were gathering with friends and family on Saturday to watch their team's World Cup quarter final against Portugal, holding the torch as the last African or Arab country left in the tournament.
Ranked 22nd in the world by FIFA, Morocco has already beaten high-ranking Belgium and Spain in a tournament marked by upsets, causing wild celebrations by its fans.
Hundreds of Moroccan fans have flown into Doha for the match after Royal Air Maroc laid on seven extra flights, joining a large contingent already present in Qatar, where many Moroccans live and work. Fans were queuing for stadium access hours before the game. It is also the last African team in the tournament and would become the first from the continent to reach a World Cup semi-final if it can get past Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
Most prime viewing spots seemed to have been taken hours before kickoff, with many cafes removing tables to make more space for chairs where people could sit and watch and outside cars swept past with Moroccan flags.
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