Wahbi: We’re not just aiming for the quarter-finals, our only dream is to win the World Cup

National coach Mohamed Wahbi confirmed that the Moroccan national team enters the upcoming match against France, scheduled for Thursday in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, with a winning mentality and the desire to continue their dream. He rejected the notion that merely reaching this stage is a sufficient achievement, emphasizing that the real goal for the "Atlas Lions" is to go as far as possible in the tournament.

During the pre-match press conference, Wahbi stated that comparing the current match against France to the semi-final clash between the two teams in the 2022 Qatar World Cup is irrelevant, asserting that the circumstances have completely changed for both sides.

He said: "This match cannot be compared to what happened in the 2022 World Cup, as each match has its own circumstances. We have a different team now, and France has also changed. What matters to us is the confidence in what we have achieved so far and our belief in our ability to win.".

Wahbi added: "The evaluation comes after the tournament ends, and I will not be satisfied with what we have accomplished as long as there is still a chance to achieve more. We have spoken with the players, and our message is clear: we want to win and will do everything we can to achieve that, and we will not listen to those who say that losing to France would be acceptable because they are the favorites.".

He continued: "We will enter the match with the mentality of a team that wants to qualify for the semi-finals. I do not believe that what has been achieved so far is merely a sufficient accomplishment or that what comes next is a reward; the only reward for us is winning the World Cup.".

Wahbi clarified: "We will only field players who are 100% ready. All players are available except for Ismail Sabiri, as the match against France comes too early for him, but we hope he will be present for the rest of the tournament.".

Regarding the match referee's appointment, Wahbi expressed his satisfaction, noting that the referee's experience gives everyone confidence. He added: "We are comfortable with this choice, and in general, we must respect and accept the referees' decisions.".

He also praised the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaa, stating that his continuous presence alongside the team serves as a source of support and motivation for all members of the delegation.

Wahbi said: "Lekjaa has exceptional passion and works tirelessly despite his constant travels between Morocco and the United States. He provides us with all the necessary conditions, and his presence gives us great positive energy. He has always been the first to believe in our potential to win titles. For us, he is not just the federation president, but the team's number one supporter.".

The conference experienced a tense atmosphere before it began, following a sudden disagreement between a Moroccan journalist and a French journalist inside the conference hall, causing a delay of several minutes before the organizing committee and several officials intervened to contain the situation and restore calm.

After the crisis ended, the conference commenced with Mohamed Wahbi and Ibrahim Diaz in attendance, where they confirmed that the Moroccan national team continues its preparations in a positive atmosphere, fully focused on delivering the best possible performance against the French team and continuing to make history by reaching the semi-finals.