Morocco
World Cup 2026 Group C — fixtures, standings, and knockout path
Atlas Lions' 2026 spine: Hakimi's flank and En-Nesyri's aerial threat
Achraf Hakimi remains the tactical fulcrum, his overlapping runs from right-back creating overloads for Ziyech to exploit. Youssef En-Nesyri’s physicality (12 headed goals for Sevilla in 2023/24) gives Morocco a direct outlet against Canada’s shaky center-backs. Sofyan Amrabat anchors midfield but faces pressure from 19-year-old Bilal El Khannouss – Genk’s playmaker already has 7 assists in Belgium’s top flight. The defense relies on Nayef Aguerd’s recovery speed to handle Belgium’s Doku in what could decide Group F’s top spot.
Group F déjà vu with higher stakes
Morocco drew Belgium in the 2022 group stage too – last time it was a 2-0 win fueled by Ziyech’s curled opener. Canada presents a rematch of their 2016 friendly loss (4-0) but with Alphonso Davies now their chief threat. Jordan is the wildcard: their compact 5-4-1 forced South Korea into extra time in January’s Asian Cup. Regragui must avoid complacency; Morocco lost to Iran in 2018 when favored. The King Mohammed VI Football Complex near Rabat has hosted intense heat training to prepare for Dallas’ 38°C June matches.
From 2022’s Cinderella run to CAF’s new standard
That semifinal wasn’t a fluke – Morocco conceded just once in 7 matches (an own goal vs Canada). Their 4-0 thrashing of Tanzania in qualifying showed depth, with Fiorentina’s Abdelhamid Sabiri pulling strings. But history looms: no African team has ever backed up a deep run. The 2026 squad carries the weight of a continent while battling internal tensions; Ziyech’s 2023 retirement U-turn exposed locker room fractures. Their July 1 knockout match (if they advance) would fall on the 24th anniversary of France eliminating them in 1998’s round of 16.
Knockout route: top two qualify automatically; a third-place finish may still advance as one of the eight best third-placed teams. View Group C hub →
Group standings
Fixtures & results
| Match | Date | Group | Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Brazil vs MoroccoEstadio New York/New Jersey | Sat, Jun 13, 2026 · 23:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
 Scotland vs MoroccoEstadio Boston | Fri, Jun 19, 2026 · 23:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
Morocco vs  HaitiEstadio Atlanta | Wed, Jun 24, 2026 · 23:00 ET | c | – | Scheduled |
Frequently asked questions
Where will Morocco play their group stage matches?+
Morocco vs Belgium at MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford), vs Canada at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City), vs Jordan at AT&T Stadium (Arlington) – all 12pm/3pm ET kickoffs to avoid peak heat.
How many European-born players are in Morocco’s squad?+
14 of their 2022 World Cup squad were born abroad (mainly France/Spain/Netherlands), including Hakimi (Madrid) and Ziyech (Dronten). 2026 projections suggest similar numbers.
Has Morocco ever beaten a CONCACAF team at the World Cup?+
No – they lost 3-1 to Germany FR in 1970 (with Mexico as hosts) and drew 0-0 with Paraguay in 1998. The 4-0 loss to Canada in 2016 was a friendly.
What’s Morocco’s best World Cup finish besides 2022?+
Round of 16 in 1986 – their only advancement until 2022. They topped a group with England, Poland, and Portugal but lost 1-0 to West Germany.