Morocco at the 2026 World Cup arrives with a status no African side had ever held before Qatar 2022: semifinalists. Three years ago, nobody had ever seen an African team in a World Cup semifinal. Then Morocco happened.
At Qatar 2022, the Atlas Lions beat Portugal 1-0 in the quarterfinals through Youssef En-Nesyri’s towering header and then faced France in a semifinal that Africa had never previously reached. They lost 2-0. They still went home as the tournament’s most celebrated story.
Morocco qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup by winning Group E of the CAF qualifying competition, securing their spot with two matchdays to spare after a 5-0 victory over Niger in Rabat.
First African nation to qualify for 2026. Perfect qualifying record. World Ranking: 8th — an all-time high and the top rank in Africa. And now: Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
The group includes the five-time champions. The group reunites Morocco and Scotland from the 1998 World Cup. The group adds Haiti’s extraordinary 52-year return to the most emotionally resonant collection of Group C teams the draw could have produced.
Morocco arrive in North America not as underdogs, not as a surprise package, and not as a one-tournament wonder. They arrive as Africa’s standard-bearers — the continent’s highest-ranked team, the team that proved African football belongs at the World Cup’s final four — with the genuine expectation of going deep again.
TL;DR
- Morocco are in Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti.
- Fixtures: June 13 vs Brazil (New York/New Jersey Stadium), June 19 vs Scotland (Boston Stadium), June 24 vs Haiti (Atlanta Stadium).
- Manager: Mohamed Ouahbi — appointed in March 2026 after Walid Regragui’s resignation.
- Key players: Achraf Hakimi (PSG — 2025 CAF African Player of the Year), Youssef En-Nesyri (Fenerbahçe — scored the quarterfinal winner against Portugal at the 2022 World Cup), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis, on loan from Fenerbahçe), Yassine Bounou (Al Hilal).
- World Ranking: 8th — an all-time high and the top rank in Africa.
- This marks Morocco’s 7th World Cup appearance, and their third consecutive qualification.
- 1998 echo: Morocco, Brazil and Scotland were all in the same group at the 1998 World Cup.
- Morocco co-host the 2030 World Cup — extra motivation to perform well in 2026 as preparation for home hosting.
Snippet Block
Morocco are in Group C at the 2026 World Cup alongside Brazil, Scotland and Haiti. They play Brazil on June 13 in New York/New Jersey, Scotland on June 19 in Boston and Haiti on June 24 in Atlanta. Morocco qualified first from Africa with a perfect record and entered 2026 ranked 8th in the world, the highest position in the country’s history. The squad is built around Achraf Hakimi, the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, Youssef En-Nesyri, who scored the quarterfinal winner against Portugal in 2022, and goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, another cornerstone of the side’s modern golden era.
Morocco at the 2026 World Cup: The Draw, Group C and the 1998 Echo
Morocco have been placed in Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. In 1998, Morocco also landed in a group that included Brazil and Scotland, alongside Norway.
That 1998 group ended with Morocco beating Scotland 3-0 on the final matchday — a result that knocked Scotland out. Scotland have never advanced past the World Cup group stage in any of their eight previous appearances. In 1998, Morocco were the team that ended their campaign. In 2026, 28 years later, they meet again in Boston on June 19. The history is unmissable.
The teams’ only previous World Cup meeting took place in their final group-stage match at France 1998, when Morocco won 3-0. That result. That scoreline. That memory. Playing out again — now with Scotland desperate for their first-ever World Cup knockout-stage appearance, and Morocco carrying the weight of being the team that has stood in their way before.
The final draw created the most narratively rich Group C the World Cup could have produced. When Group C was drawn, the football conversation immediately turned to 1998 — and to what Morocco can do against Brazil.
Morocco at the 2026 World Cup Fixtures
Game 1 — Brazil vs Morocco
June 13: Brazil vs Morocco — New York/New Jersey Stadium.
The opening match of Group C is the group’s defining fixture. Brazil — five-time champions — are the group’s clear favourites. Morocco — 2022 semifinalists, ranked 8th in the world — are the group’s most capable challengers.
Brazil and Morocco have met once before at the World Cup, in the group stage in 1998, when Brazil won 3-0. Their most recent meeting overall came in a 2023 friendly that Morocco won 2-1, a result that underlined that the Atlas Lions were not living off Qatar 2022 nostalgia alone.
New York/New Jersey Stadium hosts this opening match and will also stage the final. Morocco opening against Brazil, on one of the tournament’s biggest stages, is both a challenge and an opportunity: a result here would announce their intentions to the entire world.
Game 2 — Scotland vs Morocco
June 19: Scotland vs Morocco — Boston Stadium.
The reunion match. Boston becomes the setting for one of the group stage’s most loaded historical encounters. Scotland need a win to keep their round-of-32 hopes alive. Morocco need a win to confirm their qualification. The same stakes, the same nations, 28 years after the last time they met at a World Cup.
Scotland arrive in their first World Cup since 1998. Their Group C draw is unforgiving. Beating Morocco requires something their 1998 predecessors could not manage.
Game 3 — Morocco vs Haiti
June 24: Morocco vs Haiti — Atlanta Stadium.
Morocco vs Haiti will be the first official meeting between the two nations. Morocco bring tournament experience, structure and defensive discipline. Haiti bring the emotion of a nation returning to the World Cup after 52 years away.
Morocco at the 2026 World Cup: Mohamed Ouahbi and the Coaching Change
Walid Regragui was appointed Morocco’s head coach on August 31, 2022 and led the team to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, the greatest achievement in the country’s football history.
However, Morocco will not go to the 2026 World Cup under Regragui. On March 5, 2026, he resigned, saying the team needed a new vision and a different energy. Morocco’s federation then confirmed Mohamed Ouahbi as his successor.
That change gives Morocco one of the tournament’s most unusual managerial storylines. The core identity of the side remains the same: defensive organisation, disciplined pressing, and fast transitions led by elite wide players. But the man delivering the final World Cup preparation is now Ouahbi, not Regragui.
The system that carried Morocco through qualifying still exists. The question now is whether the coaching transition, so close to the tournament, creates fresh momentum or unnecessary turbulence.
Morocco at the 2026 World Cup Squad: Key Players
Achraf Hakimi — Right Back, Paris Saint-Germain
Achraf Hakimi is the captain, the modern face of Moroccan football, and one of the world’s best right-backs. He has already played in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, appearing in every match during Morocco’s run to the semifinals in Qatar.
In 2025, Hakimi won the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award after a trophy-laden season with Paris Saint-Germain that included the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France. His attacking contributions from right-back — overlapping runs, precise crossing, acceleration and directness in one-on-one situations — remain among the most valuable in world football.
Hakimi is also the emotional engine of the team. His leadership matters almost as much as his sprinting.
Youssef En-Nesyri — Forward, Fenerbahçe
Youssef En-Nesyri remains the striker most associated with Morocco’s greatest sporting moment. His headed goal against Portugal sent the Atlas Lions into the 2022 semifinals and became one of the iconic images of that World Cup.
En-Nesyri’s international legacy is already secure, but his value to Morocco is not just symbolic. He gives them a direct penalty-box threat, aerial power and a forward who understands how to turn rare chances into decisive goals.
Sofyan Amrabat — Midfielder, Real Betis (on loan from Fenerbahçe)
Sofyan Amrabat remains one of the side’s tactical anchors. His 2022 World Cup performances made him one of the standout midfielders of the tournament, and his role for Morocco has hardly changed since.
He protects the back line, breaks up transitions and gives the side the platform to spring forward. Morocco’s defensive structure depends on discipline. Amrabat is one of the players who gives it shape.
Yassine Bounou — Goalkeeper, Al Hilal
Yassine Bounou is still one of the best big-game goalkeepers in international football. At Qatar 2022, he was central to Morocco’s penalty-shootout win over Spain and to the broader defensive resilience that took the team to the final four.
His shot-stopping, command of crosses, positioning and composure under pressure make him one of the foundations of Morocco’s entire tournament identity.
Morocco’s World Cup History
This marks Morocco’s 7th World Cup appearance, and their third consecutive qualification.
1970 — Group stage. Morocco’s first World Cup. Lost 2-1 to West Germany, drew 1-1 with Bulgaria, and lost 3-0 to Peru.
1986 — Round of 16. Morocco became the first African team to advance from the World Cup group stage. They topped a group containing England, Poland and Portugal, then lost to West Germany in the last 16.
1994 — Group stage. Eliminated in the group stage.
1998 — Group stage. The 3-0 win over Scotland came too late. Morocco were eliminated despite finishing with four points.
2018 — Group stage. Lost to Iran 1-0, drew with Spain 2-2, lost to Portugal 1-0.
2022 — Semifinalists. Everything changed. Spain were beaten on penalties. Portugal were beaten 1-0. France ended the run in the semifinal. It remains the best performance by an African team at a World Cup.
Morocco’s Strengths and Vulnerabilities
What Morocco bring
Proven semifinal quality. Morocco are not building toward a deep run — they have already made one. Much of the group that defeated Spain and Portugal in 2022 remains central to the 2026 side. That tournament experience — understanding knockout pressure, defending deep without losing structure, and counter-attacking with precision — is priceless.
Hakimi as a global star. Morocco have a captain who is not merely elite by African standards, but elite full stop. His 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award confirmed his status as one of the continent’s defining footballers.
Defensive system that can neutralise stronger teams. Morocco’s 2022 defensive record was historic. The team conceded only once in open play across six matches. That shape, concentration and collective sacrifice remain the tactical identity Morocco will try to reproduce in North America.
2030 co-hosting motivation. Morocco co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. Every performance in 2026 will be watched through that longer lens. This is not only a tournament run. It is also a bridge to a home World Cup cycle.
Where Morocco can be exposed
Brazil opening first. Playing the group’s hardest match first means Morocco get no easing-in period. Any tactical misread, injury or suspension in Game 1 can ripple across the rest of the group.
Transition at head coach. A managerial change in March 2026 is the kind of timing that makes analysts reach for aspirin. Mohamed Ouahbi has inherited a strong structure, but changing voices so close to a World Cup can either refresh a team or unsettle it.
The ageing 2022 core. En-Nesyri, Bounou, Amrabat and several others are now four years older than they were in Qatar. Experience helps. Age, unfortunately, also exists.
Scotland’s specific tactical threat. Scotland are physically strong, organised and dangerous from set pieces. They are not a side Morocco can treat casually, especially with the emotional charge of the 1998 rematch hanging over the fixture.
The Path Beyond Group C
If Morocco advance from Group C — the expectation of many analysts — they will move into the Round of 32 at the end of June or the start of July, depending on final group placement and bracket routing.
Their path to matching or even improving on 2022 is structurally possible. They avoided several of the tournament’s heaviest group-stage opponents and remain one of the most tactically coherent sides outside the traditional European and South American powers.
Whether they can go further than the semifinal is the question Morocco have been building toward ever since Qatar ended.
Frequently Asked Questions
What group is Morocco in at the 2026 World Cup?
Group C alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
What are Morocco’s 2026 World Cup fixtures?
June 13 vs Brazil — New York/New Jersey Stadium. June 19 vs Scotland — Boston Stadium. June 24 vs Haiti — Atlanta Stadium.
Who is Morocco’s manager?
Mohamed Ouahbi. He was appointed in March 2026 after Walid Regragui resigned.
What was Morocco’s best World Cup result before 2022?
Round of 16 in 1986, when Morocco became the first African nation to advance from the World Cup group stage.
Who is Morocco’s most important player?
Achraf Hakimi. The captain is Morocco’s standout star and won the 2025 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
Have Morocco faced Brazil before?
Yes. Brazil beat Morocco 3-0 at the 1998 World Cup, while Morocco won a friendly between the sides in 2023.
Have Morocco faced Scotland before?
Yes. Morocco beat Scotland 3-0 in their final group-stage match at the 1998 World Cup.
How did Morocco qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Morocco won Group E in CAF qualifying and sealed qualification with a 5-0 win over Niger in Rabat.
What is Morocco’s FIFA ranking?
Morocco were ranked 8th in the FIFA men’s world ranking published on January 19, 2026.
Is Morocco co-hosting a future World Cup?
Yes. Morocco will co-host the 2030 World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
Key Takeaway
Morocco in 2026 are a different proposition from any previous African World Cup team. They are not hopeful debutants, romantic underdogs or one-tournament wonders. They are the 8th-ranked team in the world, the first African nation to qualify for the tournament, and the holders of a distinction that changed football history: the first African side ever to reach a World Cup semifinal.
The core remains. Hakimi has reached the summit of European club football. En-Nesyri scored the most important goal in Moroccan football history. Bounou still gives the team authority from the back. The system still works.
What changed, unexpectedly, is the man in charge.
Brazil in New York/New Jersey on June 13 is where Group C begins. The result of that match — more than any other in the group — will shape whether Morocco’s 2026 story rolls into July.
