Rabat – Brazil’s head coach Carlo Ancelotti has described Morocco as the toughest opponent in Group C of the 2026 World Cup. The group also includes Scotland and Haiti, but Ancelotti singled out the Atlas Lions as the team to beat.
He explained that Morocco’s performance in Qatar 2022 changed how the world views them.
The North African side became the first Arab and African team to reach the semifinals, defeating Spain and Portugal before losing to France. “Morocco played excellent football in Qatar and reached the last four. They are very strong, and the match against them will be complicated,” Ancelotti said.
Former Real Madrid coach added that playing in North America will not create major climate issues for Brazil, since most matches will be scheduled at night.
But he stressed that Morocco’s quality and consistency make it a serious challenge. “They play high‑level football, they keep winning, and they were amazing in the last World Cup. They also have a very good coach,” he noted.
“We need to approach every game properly, but Morocco comes first, because they are the hardest team in the group.” Morocco enters the 2026 tournament with growing confidence, having qualified for three consecutive World Cups. With stars like Achraf Hakimi and Yassine Bounou plus a new generation of talent, the Atlas Lions will aim to build on their historic success and prove that Qatar was not a one‑time miracle.
