Mohamed Ouahbi, the newly appointed coach of Morocco, has urged his team not to fear facing five-time World Cup champions Brazil in their opening match of the tournament. The encounter, set to take place in New Jersey this Saturday, promises to be one of the most eagerly anticipated fixtures of the group stage.
The Atlas Lions, who stunned the football world by reaching the semi-finals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will use this match as a benchmark for their current standing. Ouahbi, who took over the reins from Walid Regragui in March, expressed confidence in his squad’s preparation and mindset ahead of the showdown.
“This match will tell us where we stand, but I think we’re in a good place to start this competition,” Ouahbi said. “We’ve got to be confident in ourselves and what we have accomplished. We shouldn’t fear Brazil but treat them with respect.”
Morocco’s Rise and Respect on the World Stage
Morocco’s previous World Cup run remains historic—they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the semi-finals, eliminating strong European contenders such as Spain and Portugal along the way. That performance marked a breakthrough for a team that had only once before progressed past the group stage in the tournament’s history.
However, Ouahbi insists this time is different. The current Moroccan squad holds a world ranking of seventh, narrowly trailing their Group C rivals Brazil, who are placed sixth. This elevated status reflects the team’s growing recognition on the international stage.
“We’re not afraid,” Ouahbi affirmed. “We’ve entered a new dimension, and now we are a lot more respected. Our goal is to sustain this progress—it’s up to us to become genuine contenders.”
Among the key players leading Morocco’s charge is Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, whose presence bolsters the team’s ambitions heading into the tournament.