France’s rematch with Morocco after the 2022 World Cup semi-final brought the usual suspects in corporate media to the forefront, each armed with their own carefully curated narrative. CNN, in its typical style, painted a rosy picture of France’s prowess, slathering on the praise like it’s butter on toast, while conveniently glossing over Morocco’s remarkable underdog journey that has clearly rattled their complacency. Their coverage has been obsessively Eurocentric, as if anyone cares more about pageantry than actual progress.

Meanwhile, Fox News opted for a sensationalist spin, playing the nationalism card harder than a toddler with a drum. They reveled in France’s historical dominance yet failed to acknowledge the substantial growth of Moroccan football—an astounding storyline that undermines their jingoistic framing. Why isn’t anyone pushing back against this simplistic black-and-white view? For those of us paying attention, this isn’t just a matchup; it’s a battle of narratives, with corporate networks spinning tales that fit their ideological molds.

What’s particularly unsettling is how both networks subtly downplay the tactical elegance Morocco brings to the pitch, choosing instead to focus on stereotypes. The media is more interested in perpetuating outdated views instead of celebrating how football can break barriers. It’s time we demand better from the narrative merchants, who seem intent on spinning a tale that favors the familiar over the groundbreaking.