Shadi Riyad: We Dream of Winning the World Cup

Shadi Riad has raised the ambitions of the Moroccan national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup finals, affirming that the "Atlas Lions" are not content with merely participating in the global tournament, but aspire to compete for the title and write a new chapter in the history of Moroccan football.

The Moroccan national team defender's statements came after the significant friendly win over Madagascar with a 4-0 scoreline, where he emphasized that the achievement in the 2022 Qatar World Cup boosted the players' confidence in their ability to compete with the world's top teams and achieve exceptional results.

Riyad explained that the current group is rich with elements possessing high technical quality and accumulated experience, noting that the great harmony among the players and team spirit are among the key strengths of the team.

He added that all members of the group work with a unified mindset and show complete commitment both on and off the field, aware of the challenges that await them in major competitions. He emphasized that believing in the ability to achieve accomplishments is a fundamental step towards reaching the desired goals.

The "Atlas Lions" defender emphasized that the Moroccan national team is approaching the upcoming phase with great seriousness, while maintaining humility and focus at every stage. He considered it natural to have the legitimate ambition to win the World Cup given the capabilities of this generation.

Shadi Riad concluded by emphasizing that the dream of winning the 2026 World Cup is shared by all members of the team, expressing his hope that this generation will succeed in gifting Moroccan fans a historic title that will immortalize their names in the annals of world football.