Marrakech – Spain’s national team coach Luis de la Fuente has named Morocco among the main contenders for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside traditional powerhouses Brazil, Argentina, Germany, France, and Portugal.
In an exclusive interview with Spanish newspaper AS, de la Fuente hailed Morocco’s rapid rise in international football. “They have an excellent team and have been champions of the world at the Under-20 level,” the Spanish coach said. “Their players compete in the best leagues, with very great footballers.”
The recognition marks a turning point in global football, as once-overlooked and underestimated nations now battle at the elite level. Morocco’s rise to World Cup contender status recasts the hierarchy, with new powers unsettling the established order.
The North African country reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, becoming the first African team to advance that far in the tournament’s history. This breakthrough performance shifted global perceptions of African football capabilities.
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The Spanish coach stressed the unprecedented competitive depth of the upcoming tournament. “There has never been another World Cup with such a range of good candidates as there will be in the next one,” he stated. The tournament will be held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada in 2026.
The Spanish coach also acknowledged other potential surprise teams. He specifically mentioned Cape Verde, which will face Spain in Group H alongside Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. “There are exotic countries that will demonstrate their progress, like Cape Verde,” de la Fuente noted.
When asked about Spain’s chances, de la Fuente expressed confidence in his team’s ability to compete for the title. “I answer this question with determination: Yes, we can be world champions,” he said. “We can, and we will fight to be so. But there are also other teams that will try.”
Spain enters the tournament as European champions, having won Euro 2024. The team has established an impressive unbeaten streak that surpassed the record set by Spain’s golden generation between 2008 and 2012.
Morocco has been drawn in Group C for the 2026 World Cup, where they will compete against Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti.
The Atlas Lions are currently competing in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil just days after securing the Arab Cup title, with the final scheduled for January 18.
Their performance in this tournament will further test their credentials as genuine World Cup contenders.
The 2026 World Cup will feature an expanded format with 48 teams, providing more opportunities for nations like Morocco to showcase their growing football prowess.
De la Fuente’s comments reflect Morocco’s transformation from an outsider to a respected force in world football.
The team’s success has been built on players competing in Europe’s top leagues and strong youth development programs through the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé – a national project initiated by King Mohammed VI that has produced many of Morocco’s top talents and become a model for elite player development.