Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouabi was asked about his national team ambitions. His answer was bold and direct, almost provocative.
“We can win the World Cup”
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When I first heard those words, I thought he could have chosen his words more carefully.
It’s widely known in soccer that every coach wants their players to believe, but bold predictions tend to be punished at the World Cup. With a difficult group lineup and an unforgiving road to elimination, I wondered if these words would ultimately come back to haunt Wabi.
After three group stage matches and two knockout matches, I found myself not only repeating the same bold statement, but making it even bolder: Morocco can win the World Cup and have the potential to dominate world football for years to come.
Dreaming about 2022 after Qatar
Soccer sometimes rewards dreamers with shocking tournament results. One example of this was Croatia’s impressive advance to reach the finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and the unexpected breakthrough of my home country, Morocco, to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The latter result not only fueled the country’s dreams of one day becoming the first African and Arab world soccer champions, but also greatly boosted domestic expectations that Morocco could win the title by 2026.
As the World Cup in America approaches the quarter-final stage, my belief in Morocco’s victory is simple. This team has already demonstrated many of the qualities that define a world champion in this competition, setting the stage for an upset winner in this year’s competition.
control over the Dutch
Despite being ranked one place below in the official FIFA World Rankings at 8th place, Atlas Lion’s victory over the Dutch national team, who won in the round of 32, was Atlas Lion’s biggest match of the tournament.
The Netherlands need to abandon their “total football” philosophy and adopt a low-block defensive mentality, which shows how much respect Morocco has against the world’s soccer powerhouses.
Morocco fell behind, but managed to equalize in the final stages, ending the game at 1-1 within regulation. The North African team could have won in extra time, but they kept their cool and won 3-2 in a bizarre penalty shootout in which both sides missed numerous spot-kicks.
The biggest statistical takeaway from this match was that Morocco had almost complete control for long periods of time, dominating with 70 percent of possession against one of the most feared attacking teams in world football.
Infiltrating a co-host’s party
However, if the final match against the Netherlands was Morocco’s biggest challenge of the World Cup, the next round of 16 match against co-hosts Canada was the most important.
These are the kinds of games that show the character of a team and the resilience that separates the good teams from the great teams.
Their 3-0 victory was due to relentless efficiency, a coach’s excellent understanding of the game, a bench that could make a difference, and the patience to outplay a very fast, resilient and physical team.
These traits are common to World Cup winners, and Morocco have developed them at an impressive pace during the 2026 tournament.
This rapid acceleration of game-by-game improvement proves why this team is arguably stronger than the one that captivated the world in Qatar. Back then, we held out our way to make history, and now we are going out of our way to make history.
don’t get defensive
Of course, we can’t win the game without a solid defense. That’s why Morocco are now more confident and in control of matches, although defensive discipline remains part of their core identity.
Their midfield is more composed in possession. Transitions are cleaner and attacks are more varied and threatening. This team no longer relies on counter-attacks. You can decide on your tempo and push as hard as you want, or patiently wait for an opportunity to present itself.
Equally important is the depth of the team. Four years ago, the starting eleven carried almost all the weight. Today is different. The play, which led to the crucial third goal in the final against Canada, was initiated by substitute Kemzuddin Talbi, facilitated by Real Madrid’s star midfielder Brahim Díaz, and scored by another bench player, Sufian Rahimi.
The biggest test awaits the winning candidate
There are still three games left to win to lift the trophy, and like Ouabi I truly believe Morocco can win, but that belief now faces its biggest test in Thursday’s quarter-final in Boston against former colonial foes and favorites to win the tournament.
For many, this is a rematch of the 2022 semifinals. I have a different perspective.
Revenge makes for a good headline, but that’s not the point. What matters is whether Morocco can prove that the talent gap that separates the two countries has truly narrowed. Defeating France won’t erase the pain for Qatar, but it will deeply validate Morocco’s place among soccer’s elite.
If the Atlas Lions beat France, they will face either Spain or Belgium in the semi-finals. Neither opponent should threaten this team.
Morocco lost both matches in Qatar. They faced Spain in the round of 16 and Belgium in the group stage.
These wins fundamentally changed the team’s mindset. Morocco no longer approaches Europe’s traditional powers in the hope of surprising them, but in the hope of competing with them.
In the World Cup final, if Morocco advances, Argentina, England, Norway and Switzerland could be on the other side of the draw.
Argentina has unparalleled experience in dealing with pressure, but recent stumbles against Cape Verde and a controversial come-from-behind victory over Egypt in the round of 16 exposed major gaps in the defending champions’ armor.
However, England may offer Morocco the most advantageous tactical matchup. Morocco’s defensive structure and quick transitions can at times expose England’s lack of fluidity and creativity.
None of the above guarantees that Morocco will win the trophy. The World Cup can be unpredictable at times. Who could have predicted that Brazil would succumb to Norway and Germany to Paraguay? But there comes a time when beliefs are driven not only by emotion, but also by evidence.
bright future
For years, Morocco has dreamed of competing with the soccer powerhouses. In Qatar, the Atlas Lions proved they belonged, but now they have the opportunity to accomplish something even bigger: a multi-year period of dominance.
In Qatar, we shocked the football world and now we want to beat the world. Therefore, the difference between now and then is not only tactical, but also psychological.
When I heard Ouabi say that Morocco could win the World Cup, I thought he was asking us to believe him. I now realize that he was simply describing the elite team standing in front of him.
A player who can become a world champion.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial policy.
