Morocco at the World Cup 2026: Can the Atlas Lions Repeat?
Semi-finalists in 2022, Morocco arrive with a new coach and a long-shot title chance in our model. Here is the realistic ceiling.
Morocco land at the World Cup 2026 as the great African hope, but the build-up has been anything but smooth. Walid Regragui, the coach who steered the Atlas Lions to a historic semi-final in 2022, departed after the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final, and on 5 March 2026 the federation promoted Mohamed Ouahbi, the man who had just won the U-20 World Cup with Morocco's youngsters. Handing the senior side to a coach with so little top-level experience just three months before a World Cup is a genuine gamble.
The talent, though, is real. Captain Achraf Hakimi remains one of the best full-backs on the planet, fresh off a Champions League title with PSG, while Real Madrid's Brahim Díaz arrives in irresistible form after finishing the 2025 AFCON as the Golden Boot winner. Around them, Sofyan Amrabat anchors the midfield, Azzedine Ounahi and Bilal El Khannouss supply creativity, and Nayef Aguerd and Noussair Mazraoui shore up the back line in front of goalkeeper Yassine Bono. Notably, Ouahbi left out veteran striker Youssef En-Nesyri, signalling a leaner, faster attacking profile.
The draw was unkind. In Group C Morocco face five-time champions Brazil first, in what is effectively the toughest group-stage opener available, before games against Scotland and Haiti. They open against Brazil on 13 June at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, meet Scotland on 19 June at Gillette Stadium near Boston, and close against Haiti on 24 June at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Realistically, second place behind Brazil is the target, and with the expanded 48-team format even a strong third can sneak through to the knockouts.
Ranked eighth in the world and the highest-placed African nation, Morocco have the pedigree to go deep again — a last-eight run is a credible ceiling, and the 2022 squad proved that an organised, fearless Atlas Lions side can humble anyone over 90 minutes. The flip side is a new coach, a brutal group draw and the weight of expectation after that semi-final. A coaching change this close to a tournament rarely produces a smooth campaign.
Our model is respectful but cautious: it places Morocco well down the field of contenders, behind co-favourites Spain and Argentina and their group rivals Brazil. That makes them a genuine dark horse rather than a favourite — exactly the role they relished in Qatar. See where the Atlas Lions sit against all 48 teams in our World Cup 2026 predictions, then build your own bracket in the simulator.
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