Morocco’s ‘Comedy Cup’ Brings World Cup Spirit to the Stand-Up Stage

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup now wrapped up, Taliss is offering audiences another “Cup” to follow, this time trading football for comedy and the pitch for the stage.

Rabat – A new comedy experience is taking shape with the launch of “Coupe d’Humour” (Comedy Cup), which will kick off on July 27 at the Mohamed Zefzaf Theater in Casablanca.

Organized by Moroccan humorist Abdelali Lamhar, known as Taliss, the new concept borrows its competitive spirit from the World Cup, bringing comedians together to compete across several rounds, with only one ultimately taking home the trophy.

The idea may draw from football, but the competition itself is all about comedy, with performers battling it out to prove who can win over the audience and emerge as the funniest of the tournament.

The competition format

While the FIFA World Cup unfolds across dozens of matches involving 48 teams, “Comedy Cup” will condense its tournament into six matches featuring 16 comedians.

The first round will open on July 27, followed by the remaining matches on August 4, 5, 9, 10, and 19.

The competition will begin with two separate matches, each featuring eight comedians. Three comedians will be eliminated from each match, leaving five from each group and a total of 10 comedians moving forward.

The 10 remaining comedians will then compete in the next round, where four will be eliminated and six will advance to the semifinals. From there, four comedians will make it to the final, where one will ultimately be crowned the winner of the Comedy Cup.

Bringing football into the comedy

The football-inspired concept also extends to the cast, with former Moroccan international footballer Zakaria Hadraf joining the experience in a role that further plays on the tournament’s World Cup inspiration.

Hadraf will take on the role of president of “KHFIFA,” a fictional international comedy organization modeled after FIFA and its leadership structure.

For Taliss, Hadraf’s involvement goes beyond his football career. He pointed to the former international’s sense of humor as another reason for bringing him into the project, giving him an opportunity to showcase a side of himself that audiences may not always get to see.

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup now wrapped up, Taliss is offering audiences another “Cup” to follow, this time trading football for comedy and the pitch for the stage. Tickets are available through Guichet.com.