Rabat – Morocco coach Walid Regragui expressed determination and confidence on Friday in Washington after the national team was drawn into Group C of the 2026 World Cup alongside Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Speaking to reporters following the draw at the Kennedy Center, he pledged that the Atlas Lions will “give everything to make our supporters proud.”
“We are going to respect all our opponents (…) and we will give everything to be up to the task and make our supporters proud,” Regragui said, emphasizing his team’s commitment as they prepare for a challenging group stage.
Looking ahead to Morocco’s opening match against Brazil, the five-time world champions, Regragui acknowledged the weight of the challenge, calling Brazil “one of the favorite teams” of the tournament. He noted the quality of their preparation under Carlo Ancelotti, saying: “This first match will not be easy (…) they recruited one of the best coaches with a lot of experience.”
The coach stressed, however, that Morocco is ready for the battle: “Morocco will challenge one of the favorites, but they will also be playing against one of the favorites.”
Regragui also underlined the need to approach every opponent with seriousness, including Haiti, whose football “remains unknown” to the Moroccan side. He insisted on the importance of respecting all teams in the competition.
‘Morocco can win the World Cup’
Reflecting on Morocco’s recent trajectory, including their historic run to the World Cup semifinals in Qatar and their U20 world title, Regragui said the team has earned international recognition. “Today everyone respects Morocco. Everyone knows that the Kingdom can win the World Cup,” he stated.
The coach highlighted the unique nature of the 2026 edition, the first to be co-hosted by three countries and the first to feature 48 teams competing in 104 matches. “We will have to adapt to the teams, the climate, the schedules, the pitches (…) It’s a completely different competition from what we saw in Qatar,” he said.
“When you want to win this kind of trophy, generally the best team wins. But in this type of competition, you have to adapt quickly to be competitive,” he concluded.
The tournament will be played across twelve groups of four teams, with the top two from each group advancing directly to the round of 32. The eight best third-placed teams will also move forward.
The World Cup will kick off on June 11 at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, with the final scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in the New York metropolitan area. Sixteen stadiums across the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the matches.
