Rabat— Morocco’s status heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to grow, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino placing the Atlas Lions among the tournament favorites and plenty of football experts agreeing. The Atlas Lions aren’t just underdogs anymore, they’re the team to watch.
Infantino made his comments during a video Q&A on his official Instagram page, responding to a fan question asking: “Can Morocco win the World Cup?”
“Yes, Morocco can win the next World Cup,” Infantino said. “Morocco just won the U20 World Cup, Morocco qualified for the semi-final in the last World Cup. It was very special for Morocco, for the fans to witness that.”
Morocco’s historic run to the semifinals at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was the first time an African nation reached the final four of the tournament and fundamentally shifted how the team is viewed at the highest level of the sport.
Infantino stressed that Morocco’s rise reflects a deeper transformation rather than a one-off achievement. “Morocco has now developed not just technical skills with the players on the field, but also the conviction that it is one of the powerhouses of global football, which definitely it has become,” he said.
That belief has only gotten stronger with all the success they’re having at every level. Winning the U-20 World Cup was the real game-changer, it proved that Morocco has a massive pipeline of talent and isn’t just a ‘one-hit wonder’ generation.
Infantino also pointed to leadership and institutional stability as key drivers behind that progress. “The federation is doing great work under the leadership of His Majesty the King of Morocco, a great football fan. Everyone in the country loves the game,” he added.
“I would put them amongst the favorites for the World Cup.”
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Experts back Infantino’s view
Infantino isn’t the only one who thinks so. Football legends like Thierry Henry have been saying the same thing, warning everyone not to sleep on Morocco. Henry sees them as one of the few teams actually capable of shaking up the hierarchy at the 2026 World Cup.
Henry has described Morocco as “very strong right now” and suggested he “wouldn’t be surprised if Morocco tops their World Cup group,” citing their tactical discipline, confidence and recent results.
Former Germany and Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has also been talking about how fast Morocco is improving. He thinks they “could be a surprise” in 2026, thanks to how much they’ve grown technically and how composed they look on the big stage. He’s convinced they have what it takes to go on another deep run.
Also, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose side will face Morocco in the group stage, has talked about the challenge they present, describing Morocco as one of the toughest opponents Brazil could have drawn given their organization and experience from Qatar.
Morocco has been drawn into Group C at the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Brazil, Scotland, and Haiti. Analysts describe the group as competitive rather than overwhelming.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, squad depth, tournament management and experience navigating high-pressure matches are expected to be decisive factors — areas where Morocco’s recent World Cup and youth-level success provide an advantage for them.
It’s a new era for the Atlas Lions. They’re no longer outsiders looking in – now, the world expects them to win.
