Morocco ready for Brazil World cup test, Vinicius threat – Achraf Hakimi

Morocco's World Cup journey reignites on Saturday as the Atlas Lions prepare for a significant showdown against five-time champions Brazil. This match holds considerable weight, potentially shaping the trajectory of their entire FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign.

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We are very happy to be here. We feel that the World Cup is really heating up, so we can’t wait to answer your questions.

Four years after achieving a historic milestone by becoming the first African nation to reach a World Cup semi-final, Morocco returns to the global stage with renewed confidence. They carry the aspirations of a continent eager to witness another deep tournament run. The Group C encounter is scheduled to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Morocco enters the tournament determined to prove that their remarkable performance in Qatar was not a singular achievement. Despite key player injuries, including Abde Ezzalzouli and Nayef Aguerd, head coach Mohamed Ouahbi expressed confidence in his squad's readiness. He described the team's atmosphere as positive, highlighting their trust in the players' physical condition and the team's instilled principles.

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We won’t change our principles much. We’ve shown good things and we’ll keep showing them by staying true to our principles.

Coach Ouahbi confirmed that Morocco will largely stick to their successful style of play, emphasizing consistency in their principles. "We won't change our principles much. We've shown good things and we'll keep showing them by staying true to our principles," he stated. The coach added that the team's approach would not drastically alter simply because it is their opening World Cup match.

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Just because we’re playing our first World Cup match, it doesn’t mean we’ll change everything.

Much of the focus will be on captain Achraf Hakimi, who is expected to engage in a key individual battle with Brazilian star Vinicius Junior. "I think everyone knows the Brazilian national team, we know Vinicius' qualities. I've already played against him many times and he's a great player," Hakimi commented. He stressed the importance of collective defense, stating, "To defend against Vinicius and the other Brazilian players, who are all top-level, you have to defend as a team, with clear ideas."

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I think everyone knows the Brazilian national team, we know Vinicius’ qualities. I’ve already played against him many times and he’s a great player.