To welcome home their national football team, the first Arab or African team to ever make it to the World Cup semifinals, tens of thousands of Moroccans descended on the capital on Tuesday.

As they were driven from the airport and through central Rabat by dozens of police vehicles, including cars and motorbikes with flashing lights and blaring sirens, the team and their coach Walid Regragui waved.

As fireworks erupted over the seaside capital, the crowd cheered and some people waved flares, according to AFP correspondents.

Later on Tuesday, the team was scheduled to meet with King Mohammed VI of Morocco at the royal palace in Rabat. Argentina ultimately defeated France on penalties to claim the World Cup after a thrilling 3-3 tie. After falling to Croatia in the third-place play-off, Morocco finished fourth.