As Morocco prepare to play Haiti, the minnows of Group C, in their final match of the 2026 World Cup, coach Mohammed Ouahbi says they are not worried about who they will meet in the knockout stages.
Morocco, who have collected four points so far and are almost certain to progress to the round of 32, will play the Caribbean nation in Atlanta on Thursday morning, aiming to secure three more points and potentially claim the top spot in the group.
Morocco's Brahim Diaz in action with Scotland's Lewis Ferguson during the Scotland v Morocco Group C match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, US on June 19, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
Group leaders Brazil, also on four points, will play third-placed Scotland, who have three points, in the other group fixture in Miami.
The matches will kick off simultaneously at 6pm local time on Wednesday (1am Kenyan time on Thursday).
“The players are ready. The team is willing to suffer together. There is solidarity in the team. I think we are ready for anyone,” responded Ouahbi when asked if he would prefer to meet the Netherlands or Japan in the next round.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi reacts during the Scotland v Morocco Group C match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, US on June 19, 2026.
Photo credit: Reuters
As it stands, the leaders of Group C, Brazil, will face the runners-up of Group F, Japan, with Morocco playing the Netherlands in the reverse pairing.
“The team is growing. We are improving tactically and physically. We are not looking too far ahead, whether it is Japan or the Netherlands. It could be France, Portugal or Spain,” said Ouahbi.
He expressed his confidence in the Atlas Lions, saying that they could take on any team at the World Cup.
The Atlas Lions were the better team on the day, battling to a 1-1 draw with record five-time champions Brazil in their opening group match, and then seeing off Scotland in their second.
Ouahbi, who took over from 2022 World Cup hero Walid Regragui on March 6, was particularly pleased with how Morocco performed defensively against a determined Scotland on Friday in Boston.
"We were under intense pressure in the second half, but the team did not concede a goal," said the coach.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi speaks to Brahim Diaz at the second half hydration break during the Scotland v Morocco Group C match at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, US on June 19, 2026
Photo credit: Reuters
This was similar to how Morocco powered their way to the semi-finals four years ago, conceding just one goal in their three group matches. They maintained a clean sheet in the round of 16 and quarter-final stages before losing 2–0 to France in the semi-finals.
So far in America, the Atlas Lions have scored one goal in their first two matches.
A meeting with the Netherlands in the round of 32 is sure to attract the attention of football pundits.
Ouahbi, who was born in Belgium on September 7, 1976, readily admits that his coaching style is heavily influenced by the Dutch.
"I was trained in the Netherlands. I have worked with many Dutch players. I know a lot about Dutch football. That knowledge has helped me a lot. I have an attacking style of play.”
If Africa's top-ranked nation wants to match, and perhaps surpass their 2022 Qatar exploits, he will need to bring out that attacking play.
