The 2026 World Cup is quickly approaching, and Morocco is receiving analysts’ and pundits’ attention. On CBS Sports’ UCL Today, French football legend Thierry Henry talked about teams that could surprise everyone. He mentioned Portugal and singled out the Atlas Lions:
“Don’t sleep on Morocco. Morocco are doing very well right now, they won the World Cup in U20.”
The Atlas Lions have been on the rise for a while now. Their historic run to the 2022 World Cup — reaching the semi-finals — showed the world what they’re capable of. And the recent win at the 2025 U-20 World Cup in Chile proved that the talent pipeline is strong.
Additionally, Morocco just broke a world record with 16 consecutive wins, surpassing Spain for the longest winning streak in international football. Clearly, this team is on fire.
The road to the 2026 World Cup
Morocco’s journey to the 2026 World Cup is only just beginning. The tournament—co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico—will feature 48 teams for the first time. The Final Draw will take place on December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and Morocco will be in Pot 2.
This means the Atlas Lions could face some of the biggest teams in the group stage — think France, Brazil or Spain. It won’t be easy, but Morocco have already shown that they can rise to the occasion. Analysts are excited to see how far they can go, and fans are dreaming of another historic run.
Portugal was also mentioned by Henry as one of the favorites, but the spotlight is on Morocco. With a mix of experienced players and young talents, the Atlas Lions are ready to show the world they belong amongst the best.
With the Final Draw approaching, the hype is building around Morocco as they prepare to take on the world again in 2026.
