Morocco head coach Mohamed Ouahbi thinks the Atlas Lions can dream of lifting the 2026 FIFA World Cup after qualifying for the Round of 32. They achieved this with a thrilling 4-2 comeback win over Haiti.
The North African team came back twice in a thrilling Group C finale in Atlanta. They dominated the second half, finishing the group stage unbeaten with seven points.
Morocco ended up with the same points as Brazil but missed the top spot due to goal difference. They will face the Netherlands in the Round of 32.
Ouahbi acknowledged the challenge ahead but said Morocco will fear no one as they continue their journey. Their performance has boosted their status on the world stage.
Before the match, Morocco seemed to have qualification in hand, but Haiti made it tough. The Caribbean side shocked the Atlas Lions by taking an early lead and then regaining it after Morocco equalized. Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari scored first-half goals to keep Morocco in the game.
In the second half, substitutes Soufiane Rahimi and Yassine Jassim made a big impact. Rahimi put Morocco ahead, and Jassim sealed the victory with a goal confirmed after a VAR check.
Ouahbi felt his team was mostly in control, even after conceding twice. "We knew this team had nothing to lose and would do everything possible to score," he said after the match.
"We faced some difficulties, but they only had two shots on target while we controlled the game. I don’t think the Moroccan national team has ever dominated a World Cup match like this before, and we must remember we are talking about the biggest tournament in football."
Even though they qualified as runners-up, Ouahbi dismissed claims that Morocco had a preference for any opponent. "There is no preference for any team. We will prepare properly, and whoever the opponent is, we will be ready."
He shared that his technical staff had already analyzed possible opponents, including the Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden, as Morocco gets ready for the next phase. "We came here with great ambitions. We have the desire, the ambition, and we are ready for everyone. Our responsibility is to prepare well and analyze every possible opponent."
Ouahbi feels Morocco has entered a new era where just competing is not enough. "The Moroccan national team has entered a new phase. Our players believe in themselves, and our opponents now respect us. We have a strong squad, an outstanding technical staff, and incredible supporters."
"That is why our objective must be to win the World Cup. But to achieve that, we must continue to respect every opponent. I believe completely in the work we are doing."
This is a bold statement, but it shows Morocco's impressive growth. After reaching the World Cup semi-finals in Qatar four years ago, the Atlas Lions have now gone through another tough group unbeaten, gathering seven points while showing resilience, tactical maturity, and the mindset of real contenders as they aim to make history again.
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