Scotland's Ben Gannon-Doak (left) in action with Morocco's Noussair Mazraoui during their FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C match at Boston Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, US, on June 19, 2026.
The murmurs have started.
Morocco, a week ago today, drew 1-1 with Brazil in a Group ‘C’ match in which they largely outplayed the five-time world champions.
Then on Thursday, an assured Atlas Lions did enough to subdue battling Scotland 1-0 in Boston to stand on the brink of qualification to the round of 32.
The manner in which Africa’s highest ranked country has acquired its first four points has sparked comparisons with the team that reached the semi-finals in the 2022 tournament in Qatar and expectations of a similar run in USA, Canada and Mexico, and maybe more.
In Thursday’s post-match interview, Scotland’s coach Steve Clarke responded thus to a question of what he thought of the Atlas Lions’ chances: “I really fancy the Moroccans to go far. They have the quality to reach the latter stages. They are a good team. They are top 10 in the world.”
Morocco are indeed ranked sixth in the world by Fifa and are the reigning African champions, although the Court of Arbitration for Sport is yet to pronounce itself on the bitterly-contested final of 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
In Qatar, four years ago, the Atlas Lions started in a similar efficient manner, drawing 0-0 with Croatia before beating fancied Belgium 2-0 to all but guarantee themselves passage to the knock-out stage.
Their coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, may have sensed this too after the win against Scotland.
Morocco fans celebrate after their FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C match against Scotland at the Brooklyn Bridge park, New York City on June 19, 2026.
“The team leaves this game stronger,” he said on Thursday.
Ouahbi, who was appointed on March 6, 2026, to replace 2022 Fifa World Cup hero Walid Regragui, said they knew it would be a difficult game and were ready for that.
“We wanted three points, and we got them. We defended well against Scotland’s high intensity. We controlled the game. We managed the game,” said a satisfied-sounding Ouahbi.
It is the same way the Atlas Lions performed under Regragui in the preliminary stages of the 2022 tournament to top their group.
Ouahbi, 49, stated he would be going flat out for a win in their last game against minnows Haiti on Wednesday in Atlanta.
“I will not rotate the players. We will play Haiti with our best team. The aim will be to win the game and the group,” the former Morocco Under-20 coach showed his hand.
The big stars of 2022, goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, defenders Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui, midfielders Azzedine Ounahi of Girona, PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari and Stuttgart’s Bilel El Khanouss are still firing on all cylinders for this formidable Atlas Lions squad.
In 2024, the Atlas Lions added tricky Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz to their armoury after he switched allegiance from Spain to Morocco.
The bulk of players in this Morocco team have been together for several years and it is not surprising they are the only nation outside Europe and South America ranked among the top 10 in the world.
No country outside these two regions has won the Fifa World Cup in its 96-year history. Brazil top the group on goal difference after hammering Haiti 3-0 on Friday.
They will play Scotland while Morocco face Haiti in group leadership deciders.
Ouahbi, unbeaten in his five outings with Morocco and winner of the 2025 Fifa Under-20 World Cup with Morocco, was loudly applauded by the mainly Moroccan journalists at the end of his post-match press conference in Boston.
Might they also have sensed the start of another fairy run?
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