Morocco's Journey to the World Cup
Four years ago, Morocco made headlines during the World Cup in Qatar, captivating the world with an extraordinary performance. The 'Lions of the Atlas' eliminated heavyweights like Spain and Portugal, becoming the first African nation to reach the semifinals of a World Cup. Now, as the reigning African champion, Morocco is poised for another remarkable feat. In their opening match, scheduled for Sunday night at midnight (live on ServusTV), they will face the record World Cup champions, Brazil. The Brazilian team has been chasing their sixth World Cup title since 2002, and they are determined to accomplish their mission 'Hexa' in North America this time around.
Brazil's Quest for Glory Amid Challenges
It has been 24 years since Brazil last lifted the World Cup trophy, and this time they are entering the tournament without being overwhelming favorites. Despite a bumpy qualification process, the team boasts some world-class talent, including offensive stars Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid and Raphinha from FC Barcelona, alongside defensive leader Marquinhos from Paris Saint-Germain. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti, a renowned figure in football who has won the Champions League five times with Milan and Real Madrid, is the fourth coach Brazil has had in the past three years. He is expected to unlock the full potential of the 'Selecao.' Goalkeeper Alisson from Liverpool expressed confidence in their prospects, stating, "Everything has improved since Ancelotti joined us. He has a strong presence and provides us with the calm we need to work effectively." However, Ancelotti is not immune to injury issues, with key players like Rodrygo, Estevao, Eder Militao, and Wesley missing out on the tournament. Surprising many, veteran Neymar, who has faced injury struggles in recent years, was included in the squad but will miss the match against Morocco due to a calf injury.
Meanwhile, the African champions are gearing up for their first significant challenge in Group C, hoping to create an upset. The 'Lions of the Atlas' have a formidable squad led by captain Achraf Hakimi, a Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain, and attacking player Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid. Confidence is high, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou declaring, "Morocco will leave its mark on world football at the 2026 World Cup." However, the road has not been smooth; since their historic World Cup run four years ago, the pressure has intensified significantly. Tens of thousands of fans welcomed their national team in the capital city of Rabat after their stunning performances, igniting excitement among millions of African and Arab supporters.
Following their remarkable journey, Morocco won all their qualifiers for the 2026 tournament, achieving an impressive 19 consecutive victories and breaking the world record of 15 wins set by Spain's 'Furia Roja' in 2008 and 2009. This stellar performance has propelled Morocco to eighth place in the FIFA rankings, surpassing nations like the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
Hosting the Africa Cup earlier this year was expected to further fuel their momentum, but it ended in controversy. The host nation lost in a scandalous final to Senegal, finishing 0-1 after extra time, yet was awarded the title two months later due to Senegal's team leaving the field after a disputed penalty decision and returning only after a 15-minute delay.
Head coach Walid Regragui, the successful coach of the Qatar World Cup campaign, resigned two weeks before the tournament, citing exhaustion and the need for fresh energy in the team. His resignation came amid criticism following the final defeat. Morocco quickly appointed Mohamed Ouahbi, who had led the U20 team to a sensational World Cup title in the fall of 2025. Ouahbi, who grew up in Belgium, will be supported by Joao Sacramento, who has struggled at LASK.
With a squad valued at €500 million, roughly double that of the Austrian national team according to transfermarkt.at, Morocco is expected to advance to the knockout stages with relative ease. However, this is only the first milestone in their journey. Goalkeeper Bounou candidly stated, "Let’s be honest: there are bigger favorites than us. We have been on an upward trajectory since 2022, so we aim to continue this trend. Who knows how far we can go?"
As reported by sport.orf.at.
