Morocco at the World Cup in Atlanta: Roster, Group C outlook, schedule, players to watch

Everyone loves a good underdog story, which is why Morocco turned so many heads at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. After knocking out heavyweights Spain and Portugal, it became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals of this historic tournament.

Four years later, the Atlas Lions are back and hungry for more. Here’s everything you need to know about Morocco heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Quick facts on Morocco

Manager: Mohamed Ouahbi

Captain: Achraf Hakimi

World Cup appearances: 1970, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2018, 2022, 2026 (Also set to host in 2030 alongside Portugal and Spain)

Best World Cup finish: Fourth place (2022)

Morocco’s World Cup group stage matches

vs. Brazil: June 13 at 6 p.m. EST, East Rutherford (New York New Jersey)
vs. Scotland: Jun 19 at 6 p.m. EST – Foxborough (Boston)
vs. Haiti: June 24 at 6 p.m. EST – Atlanta

Morocco’s final 26-man World Cup roster

Goalkeepers: Yassine Bounou (Al-Hilal), Munir El Kajoui (Renaissance de Berkane), Reda Tagnaouti (AS FAR Rabat)

Defenders: Noussair Mazraoui (Manchester United), Anass Salah-Eddine (PSV Eindhoven), Youssef Belammari (Al Ahly), Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Zakaria El Ouahdi (KRC Gent), Nayef Aguerd (Olympique Marseille), Chadi Riad (Crystal Palace), Redouane Halhal (KV Mechelen), Issa Diop (Fulham)

Midfielders: Samir El Mourabet (RC Strasbourg), Ayyoub Bouaddi (LOSC Lille), Neil El Aynaoui (AS Roma), Sofyan Amrabat (Real Betis), Azzedine Ounahi (Girona FC), Bilal El Khannouss (VfB Stuttgart), Ismael Saibari (PSV Eindhoven)

Forwards: Abde Ezzalzouli (Real Betis), Chemsdine Talbi (Sunderland AFC), Soufiane Rahimi (Al-Ain), Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid), Gessime Yassine (RC Strasbourg), Ayoube Amaimouni (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Morocco’s Group C outlook

Morocco and Brazil are the two clear heavyweights in Group C, so they’ll be the clear favorites to progress as the top two. The question then becomes who takes the top spot and goes on to face the runner-up of Group F (Netherlands, Japan, Sweden and Tunisia). It will likely end up being the winner of their clash on Jun 13. If there is a draw, it would probably come down to who has the better goal difference at the end of the group stage after facing (and probably defeating) Scotland and Haiti.

Of course, this is soccer, and anything can happen, but Brazil feels like it just has the edge over Morocco in terms of quality and will probably win the group, leaving the Atlas Lions to move on as the runner-up.

Morocco’s knockout stage outlook

After making a surprising semifinal run in 2022 and winning the 2025 African Cup of Nations title, Morocco is expected to make waves once again this year.

Seeing as it will probably finish second in Group C, Morocco’s most likely opponent in the round of 32 will be the Netherlands, who enter as the favorites to win Group F. Though the Oranje is a formidable foe, Morocco is probably the favorite in this matchup. If they move on, they would face the winner of the match between the runners-up of groups A and B, which will likely be one of Mexico, Canada, or Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of which Morocco should have no issue with.

The Quarterfinals are where things get tricky. Unless there are any major shake-ups, this is where they would likely face either Germany or France. If it’s France, the result will probably be similar to the 2022 World Cup semifinals, where Les Bleus claimed a 2-0 victory. Germany would be a tough test as well, but a tighter contest.

If Morocco wins Group C, its path becomes slightly less complicated, with a likely round-of-32 matchup against Japan and a likely round-of-16 matchup against Senegal or Ecuador. The quarterfinals would then probably see them cross paths with either England or Croatia, whoever wins Group L. Morocco could give either of these teams a run for their money, and, should they make the semifinals, would return to Atlanta to face one of Argentina or Portugal, the two nations with the most potential to emerge from that side of the bracket.

Either way, Morocco should be a fierce competitor in this World Cup and will likely win its fair share of knockout games. While they’re largely considered a dark horse candidate to lift the trophy, they’ve shown before that being the underdog doesn’t faze them.

Three Morocco players you should know

Achraf Hakimi

Without a doubt the most well-known player on the squad, Achraf Hakimi captains the Moroccan squad and is one of the best right backs in the world. He just helped Paris Saint-Germain win its second UEFA Champions League and its fifth Ligue 1 title in a row. In 2025, he was named African Player of the Year and ranked sixth in the Ballon d’Or, the highest position ever achieved by a Moroccan player.

Since his senior debut in 2016, Hakimi has racked up 95 caps for Morocco, including participations in the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and the African Cup of Nations in 2019, 2022, 2024 and 2026.

Hakimi will be familiar with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, having played there with PSG against Inter Miami and Bayern Munich in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. He’ll return for at least one group stage match, but could also appear in the semifinal match that Atlanta will host.

Brahim Diaz

After coming up through Manchester City’s academy, Brahim Díaz became a proven winner in multiple European leagues. With copious titles at City, AC Milan and Real Madrid, the 26-year-old winger has become a mainstay for Morocco’s national team.

Born in Spain, Díaz represented La Roja throughout his youth career and made his senior debut in 2021 before switching his allegiance to Morocco in 2024. Since then, he’s scored 13 goals in 25 appearances for the Atlas Lions and was the top goalscorer of the 2025 African Cup of Nations that Morocco won. This will be his first FIFA World Cup.

Ismael Saibari

Named the 2026 Eredivisie Player of the Year, Ismael Saibari has been highly influential in the success of both PSV Eindhoven and the Moroccan National Team. The 25-year-old midfielder has led the Dutch club to eight titles since his senior debut in 2020, including the Eredivisie title and the Johan Cruyff Shield in 2026.

After helping Morocco win the U-23 African Cup of Nations in 2023, Saibari earned 29 caps with the senior team, where he’s scored nine goals. He was on the team that captured the 2025 African Cup of Nations title and will look to make his first World Cup appearance one to remember as well.

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