American Media: Morocco is a Candidate to Make a New Surprise in the World Cup

The Moroccan national team drew significant attention at the start of their journey in the 2026 World Cup by holding Brazil to a 1-1 draw. International media considered this result a clear indication of the "Atlas Lions'" ability to go far in the tournament and continue making surprises on the global stage.

The American channel "NBC News" highlighted in a report published on its website that the performance of the Moroccan national team against Brazil confirms that the team has the necessary capabilities to be one of the standout surprises of the 23rd edition of the World Cup.

The channel pointed out that Morocco continues to build on its historic achievement in the Qatar 2022 World Cup, when it became the first Arab and African team to reach the semi-finals, affirming that the "Atlas Lions" have once again shown they are capable of competing with the world's top teams and establishing themselves among the contenders to steal the spotlight in the current tournament.

The report highlighted the quality of the players in the Moroccan national team, foremost among them being Brahim Diaz, the Real Madrid star, and captain Achraf Hakimi, who enters the World Cup buoyed by his recent UEFA Champions League victory with Paris Saint-Germain.

The channel considered that the experience of this duo plays a pivotal role in supporting the rising generation of players, notably Bilal El Khannous and Ayoub Bouaddi, who are characterized by their vitality and resilience in midfield and their great ability to maintain and recover the ball.

On another note, NBC News praised the large crowd attendance at the Morocco vs. Brazil match, describing it as one of the most exciting and competitive group stage games. It highlighted that the match featured a group of players aspiring to lead their teams to glory this summer.

The American channel confirmed that the Moroccan national team started its journey in the tournament positively. However, the ambitions this time go beyond repeating the achievement of the Qatar World Cup, as the team aims to achieve better results than the historic fourth place it achieved four years ago.

She also praised the technical level displayed by the "Atlas Lions," noting that the team imposed its character for long periods of the match thanks to precise short passes, creative movements, and speed in building attacks. This forced the Brazilian team to retreat to their defensive areas for most of the first half and focus on limiting the threat of the Moroccan attack from the very first minutes.