How Morocco can win the FIFA World Cup 2026 title | World Cup 2026

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi was asked about what he wants from the national team. His answer was bold, direct and compelling:

“We can win the World Cup.”

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As soon as I heard those words, I thought he could have chosen them more carefully.

It goes without saying in football that every coach wants his players to believe, but World Cups have a tendency to punish bold predictions. I wondered if those words would come back to haunt Ouahbi with a difficult team and an unforgiving survival mode.

A three-team draw and two knock-out games later, I find myself not only repeating the same bold statement, but making it bolder: Morocco can win the World Cup with can dominate world football for years to come.

Post-Qatar 2022 dream

Football sometimes presents dreamers with dire results: Croatia’s run to the finals of the World Cup in Russia 2018 was one example, as was my country Morocco’s unexpected run to the finals in Qatar 2022.

This final result not only encouraged the country to one day become the first African and Arab football champions in the world but also boosted the hope in the country that Morocco could continue in 2026.

With the World Cup in the United States about to enter the quarterfinals, my conviction for Morocco’s victory is simple: the team has already shown in this game that it has many of the qualities that define international champions, paving the way for an upset winner in this year’s edition.

Rule against the Dutch

The victory of the favored team Netherlands in the round of 32 – despite being placed one place lower and eight in the official FIFA World rankings – was the Atlas Lion’s biggest game of the tournament.

The Dutch abandoned their “full ball” philosophy and adopted a low defensive mentality, which showed the respect that Morocco earned against the world’s football authorities.

Morocco went behind, but equalized late on to make it 1-1 in regulation. The North African side could have won in extra time, but they kept their cool and won 3-2 in an unusual shootout, which both sides missed.

The biggest takeaway from the game was Morocco’s consistent dominance of the game for a long time, dominating the encounter with 70 percent of possessions and one of the most dangerous teams in the world.

Gatecrashing the cohost’s party

But if the knockout against the Netherlands was Morocco’s biggest World Cup title, it was the next match against the Canadian team in the last 16 that mattered most.

This is a game that shows the team spirit and courage that separates the best teams from the greats.

There was ruthless efficiency in their 3-0 win, an excellent understanding of the game from the coach, a bench that could make the difference and patience that overwhelmed a faster, stronger, and more physical team.

These qualities are shared by other World Cup winners, and Morocco has been developing them rapidly for the 2026 games.

It’s the fast pace of match-by-match that proves why this team is undoubtedly stronger than the one that delighted the nation in Qatar. Back then, we protected our way of making history – now, we are playing in history.

Don’t get defensive

Of course you can’t win a game without a solid defense. This is why defensive discipline remains part of their identity, but Morocco now controls the match with greater confidence.

Their central bird is very elaborate. Change is pure, and the attack is varied and threatening. This team no longer relies on counterattacks. It can dictate the tempo and press hard when necessary or wait patiently for opportunities to appear.

Most importantly, this team has great depth. Four years ago, the starting XI carried almost all the weight. Today, it is different. The play that led to the crucial third goal against Canada in the knockout was started by substitute Chemsdine Talbi, then led by Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz, and finished by another bench player, Soufiane Rahimi.

A great test awaits you against your loved ones

With three games left to win to take the trophy, I really believe, like coach Ouahbi, that Morocco can win, but this belief now faces a great test from the former colonial enemy, and a favorite of the tournament, France in the quarterfinals on Thursday in Boston.

For many, this is a repeat of the 2022 semifinal. I see it differently.

Revenge makes a good topic – but it’s not necessary. What is important is that Morocco can demonstrate that the talent gap that separates the two countries has narrowed. Defeating France won’t ease Qatar’s pain – but it will confirm Morocco’s place among football’s elite in a profound way.

If the Lions of Atlas can defeat France, then Spain or Belgium will be waiting in the finals. All opponents should not threaten this team.

Morocco eliminated all of them in Qatar; Spain in the round of 16 with Belgium in the group.

That win changed something, the fundamental mindset of the team. Morocco is no longer approaching the European powers hoping to surprise them – they are hoping to compete with them.

The World Cup final, if Morocco reaches it, could bring Argentina, England, Norway or Switzerland from the other side of the game.

Argentina have an unrivaled ability to travel hard but recently they have stumbled against Cape Verde and theirs controversial, come-from-behind victory against Egypt in the 16th round has shown great gaps in the equipment of professional defenders.

England, however, could provide Morocco with an excellent link-up, with Morocco’s defensive style and quick turnovers likely to expose England’s lack of fluidity and skill.

None of the above guarantees that Morocco will win. The World Cup is unpredictable at times. Who would have predicted that Brazil would fall to Norway, or Germany to Paraguay, but there comes a time when faith is not only driven by emotion but also by evidence.

A bright future

For many years, Morocco dreamed of competing with the football giants. In Qatar, the Lions of Atlas proved they belong, but now they have the chance to achieve something bigger: a multi-year reign.

In Qatar, we shocked the football world – but now we want to beat the world. Therefore, the difference between here and there is not just an idea – it is an emotional one.

When Ouahbi said that Morocco could win the World Cup, I thought he was asking us to believe. Now I realize that he was only describing the elite group that stood before him.

One who could become WORLD CHAMPIONS.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.