Van Dijk Praises Morocco Ahead of World Cup Knockout Match

Before a ball is kicked in one of the biggest matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 32, respect has already taken center stage.

During the pre-match press conference for the round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, Virgil Van Dijk stressed that the Moroccan national team “currently has one of the best right-backs in the world, Achraf Hakimi “.

He added that the ‘Atlas Lions’ can also count on striker Ismael Saibari, who has had a remarkable season, as well as an experienced goalkeeper, a quality coach, and plenty of talented players such as Brahim Diaz. The Liverpool captain also praised Morocco’s rising star midfielder, Ayyoub Bouaddi .

Van Dijk further assured that the Dutch national team have been fully focused on the clash against the Atlas Lions, emphasizing that the coaching staff has closely studied Morocco’s style of play.

He concluded that this match has “a special character due to the close ties between the Netherlands and Morocco,” reminding everyone that it is a knockout match where “there are only two outcomes: victory or elimination. We will give our best.”